Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv will deliver an updated peace proposal to the United States on Tuesday, marking the latest development in diplomatic efforts to bring Russia’s invasion to an end. The announcement came after Zelenskyy held an urgent round of talks in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The hastily arranged meeting underlined the growing urgency among European leaders to present a unified strategy as the war moves toward its fourth year.
Washington has been pushing Ukraine to agree to a framework for a negotiated settlement, but Kyiv has been seeking revisions to the earlier US-backed plan. Several European governments privately fear that the first draft placed excessive weight on Moscow’s demands and could force Ukraine into concessions that undermine its sovereignty. Zelenskyy stated that the revised document now consists of 20 points, but the most contentious question remains unresolved — whether Ukraine should cede any of its occupied territory to Russia. He stressed that, despite diplomatic pressure, Kyiv will not agree to surrender land.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that American negotiators appear eager to find middle ground. “The mood of the Americans, in principle, is for finding a compromise,” he said. However, he emphasised that there is still no acceptable solution on territorial issues because Ukraine cannot — and will not — agree to hand over any part of its internationally recognised territory. According to Zelenskyy, unity between Ukraine and Europe, as well as unity between Europe and the United States, remains essential to prevent Russia from exploiting any cracks in the coalition supporting Kyiv.
During the London meeting, leaders also sought to secure long-term US security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression after any ceasefire. The talks reflected rising concern across Europe following the circulation of a draft US ceasefire plan earlier in the month. Many European allies fear that Kyiv could be pushed into a quick deal that favours Russia’s negotiating position, especially if Washington prioritises a halt to fighting over Ukraine’s long-term security and sovereignty. Starmer reiterated that any peace arrangement must be “just and lasting,” not merely a pause in hostilities.
The leaders also weighed how frozen Russian state assets held across Europe could be used to support Ukraine. A proposal to redirect the proceeds of those assets into military and financial assistance for Kyiv has stalled in recent months, prompting calls from Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden to accelerate the process.
On the US side, President Donald Trump expressed frustration on Sunday that Zelenskyy had not yet personally reviewed the peace proposal drafted by American negotiators. Trump suggested that Ukrainian officials had responded favourably but that the president himself “isn’t ready” to move forward. Trump claimed that Russia was “fine with the plan,” although the Kremlin has not publicly endorsed the proposal. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that several provisions remained unacceptable and that the framework, even in its early form, could not be implemented in full.
For now, Kyiv continues to face intense international pressure to enter negotiations while simultaneously insisting that territorial integrity must remain non-negotiable. The revised proposal — once submitted to Washington — is expected to shape discussions in the coming weeks and determine whether the warring sides are any closer to a diplomatic breakthrough or whether the conflict will continue into another year.
