Zelenskyy had difficult conversation with US representatives on territorial issues – Axios

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's phone call with US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday 6 December lasted two hours, and the discussion of territorial issues was "difficult".

Source: Axios, citing two sources

Details: According to Axios, the conversation covered issues of territories and security guarantees.

One source said that Witkoff and Kushner gathered information from both sides and pressed Zelenskyy and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin to make concessions necessary to reach an agreement.

Quote: "The territory discussion was difficult, a source with knowledge of the call said. Russia still demands Ukraine withdraw from parts of Donbas it controls, but the US is trying to develop new ideas to bridge the issue, a second source said."

Details: Another key issue concerned US security guarantees for Ukraine. One source said the parties made significant progress and came closer to an agreement, but more work is needed to ensure both sides interpret the draft security guarantees in the same way.

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, told Axios that the main difficulties in the negotiations concern territorial issues and security guarantees.

"We are aiming to ensure that the agreed solutions are realistic, fair and sustainable," she said.

Stefanishyna added that "negotiations will continue, and in-person meetings are crucial".

According to Axios, Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umierov and Andrii Hnatov are expected to return from Miami to Europe and brief Zelenskyy in London on Monday on the US proposals.

"We need to take all the drafts and to brainstorm," a Ukrainian official told Axios.

Further talks and meetings with Witkoff and Kushner are expected later next week.

Background:

• On 4 and 5 December, Umierov and Hnatov held meetings in Miami with Witkoff and Kushner.
• Umierov and Witkoff reported on the progress of talks regarding the peace plan proposed by the Ukrainian and US sides and noted that the meetings would continue on Saturday 6 December.

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