Zelenskyy Reports Positive Progress in Christmas Discussions with US Officials

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism Thursday about progress in peace negotiations after speaking with Jared Kushner and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in what he described as a constructive Christmas conversation.

“Today we had a very good conversation with President Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, thanking them for their “intensive work” and “constructive approach” to peace efforts.

The Ukrainian president emphasized the urgency of the discussions, stating that both sides are “truly working 24/7 to bring closer the end of this brutal Russian war against Ukraine and to ensure that all documents and steps are realistic, effective, and reliable.”

The talks mark the latest in a series of high-level meetings between Ukrainian officials and Trump’s representatives, who have convened multiple times in Miami in recent weeks to hammer out potential peace terms. The discussions have already yielded tangible progress, according to Zelenskyy, who revealed Monday that the draft peace framework has been streamlined from 28 points to 20.

The evolving agreement reportedly includes proposed security guarantees involving Ukraine, European allies, and the United States, along with preliminary plans for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. A separate document outlining bilateral security guarantees with the United States is also being developed, which would likely require approval from the U.S. Congress.

Despite the progress, Zelenskyy cautioned that significant differences remain. Both Ukraine and Russia maintain positions they are unwilling to compromise on as U.S. officials continue parallel discussions with Moscow.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova struck a somewhat positive tone during a Thursday press briefing, acknowledging that talks between Washington and Moscow were making “slow but steady progress.” However, she accused unnamed Western European countries of engaging in “extremely harmful and even malicious attempts” to undermine the diplomatic process, according to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency.

The peace discussions are unfolding against a backdrop of continued violence. In Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, civilian casualties were reported from recent attacks on residential areas, highlighting the human cost of the nearly four-year conflict that has devastated eastern Ukraine and displaced millions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained a hardline stance throughout the negotiation process. In comments last week, he suggested that Russia’s objectives in Ukraine remain unchanged and will be accomplished either through negotiations or by further military advances.

“The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved,” Putin said, using the Kremlin’s preferred terminology for Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion. “We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means. However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.”

The ongoing peace efforts represent one of the most significant diplomatic initiatives since the war began in February 2022. They follow months of territorial gains by Russian forces and increasing fatigue among Ukraine’s Western backers, many of whom have struggled with the financial and political costs of sustained military aid.

The potential peace agreement would have far-reaching implications not only for Ukraine and Russia but for European security architecture and U.S. foreign policy. Any framework that emerges would likely address contentious issues including territorial control, security arrangements, and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO and the European Union.

As negotiations continue, both sides face immense pressure from their domestic constituencies and international partners, with the ultimate outcome remaining uncertain despite the cautious optimism from Ukrainian leadership.