Photo: TOBY MELVILLE / AFP / Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday (December 9) that Ukraine is ready to present new peace proposals to the United States and Russia. The announcement came after Ukrainian and European negotiators reached a more solid agreement on the proposal, which does not involve ceding any land to Russia.
Zelenskyy expressed his commitment to achieving real peace, emphasizing that the success of the proposal depends on Russia's willingness to take effective steps to end the conflict. The Ukrainian leader stated, "We are working very actively on all components of potential steps toward ending the war."
Despite pressure from the U.S. for concessions, Zelenskyy remains firm in his stance against ceding territory. He reiterated that Ukraine's laws and international law do not permit giving up land. Zelenskyy also met with Pope Leo XIV and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome to garner more European support.
The peace proposal comes amid ongoing discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators, who recently completed three days of talks. However, a major sticking point remains the suggestion that Ukraine must relinquish control of the Donbas region, which Ukraine and its European allies strongly oppose.
President Donald Trump has urged Zelenskyy to accept the U.S. proposal, arguing that Russia holds the "upper hand" in the conflict. However, Ukraine remains steadfast in its refusal to cede any territory to Russia.