Russian invasion Negotiations

Ukraine's allies meet - to discuss security guarantees

The leaders of Ukraine's allies in Europe will hold a video call on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said, according to AFP. The purpose is to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and "the important contribution of the Americans".

The meeting is being held after the United States increased pressure on Ukraine to agree to the peace proposal presented by the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, for his part, has opened the way for the country to hold elections, if security can be guaranteed. 

Analysis: Ukraine faces a decisive weekend

The peace negotiations in Ukraine are at an important stage, says Sky News' Michael Clarke in connection with today's talks between Ukraine and the United States. He thinks it is good that Ukraine is allowed to present its views to the American delegation. At the same time, he emphasizes that the upcoming weekend "will be absolutely decisive".

This time, Trump – who wants Ukraine to give up Donbas – may be serious when he says that Zelensky must give an answer before Christmas, according to Clarke.

– If Ukraine cannot come up with something that the Americans are prepared to present to the Russians, Trump may well withdraw from the entire process.

The threat of the US withdrawing is not only a big problem for Ukraine but for all of Europe, writes the New York Times’ Steven Erlanger, who has spoken to several experts.

“As much as the Europeans promise to support Ukraine, they lack their own strategy for ending the war without the US increasing its economic pressure on Russia,” he writes.

Marc Bennetts at The Times, who has also spoken to several experts, writes that the war is unlikely to end just because Ukraine hands over Donbas to Russia. That would only strengthen the Kremlin’s negotiating position. 

Expert: Zelensky's talk of elections may be a tactical move

That Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to hold Ukrainian elections within two to three months may be a conscious strategy, says Charlotte Flindt Pedersen at the Danish think tank Det Udenrigspolitiske Selskab.

She tells TV2 that the Ukrainian president has learned to say what Donald Trump wants to hear.

- That's why Zelensky says 'of course I'm ready to hold elections', but that doesn't mean it will happen, she says.

There is much evidence that it will be difficult to hold safe Ukrainian elections when the country is at war. In addition, there is little evidence that the war will soon be over. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, peace is dangerous, according to Flindt Pedersen.

- Because then all the questions will come from Russian society. Why did we go to war? Where is my son? That's why Putin will do everything to keep the Russians in a state of permanent war, she says.
Omni · Foreign

Sources: Ukraine has submitted its peace proposal

Ukraine has submitted its revised peace proposal to the US, Bloomberg reports, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Earlier today, President Zelensky wrote that the plan, which consists of 20 points, will form the framework for a future peace agreement.

During the day, Ukraine and the US met for new talks on an agreement. On Thursday, Zelensky is to talk to allies in the “coalition of the willing”.

“We continue to talk to all of our allies, basically around the clock, to identify feasible and realistic steps to end the war,” the president writes on X.

Trump's USA Negotiations
Kremlin: Trump's view appears to be in line with the Russian one

US President Donald Trump's latest statements about the war in Ukraine are in line with the Russian view. This is what Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to AFP.

According to Peskov, Trump seems to share the Russian view on, among other things, Ukrainian NATO membership and Ukrainian land cessions. He says that Trump's statements are "very important".

In a notable interview with Politico, Trump said, among other things, that Russia has a stronger negotiating position than Ukraine and that Ukraine can never join NATO. He also said that Russia, due to its size, will win the war.