Zelensky Expresses Gratitude to Trump Amid Crucial Ukraine-Russia Peace Negotiations

Ukraine:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attempted to mend relations with Donald Trump on Sunday, following the US President's outburst regarding Kyiv amid crucial peace negotiations taking place in Geneva with Russia.

President Trump, known for his fluctuating stance on Ukraine, expressed frustration on his Truth Social platform, stating that Ukraine's leadership "EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS," in reference to his proposed plan to end the conflict that has lasted nearly four years and incorporates some of Moscow's demands.

Responding promptly, Zelensky wrote on X: "Ukraine is grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump for the assistance that -- starting with the Javelins -- has been saving Ukrainian lives."

Meanwhile in Geneva, American and Ukrainian officials were working diligently to modify the 28-point draft peace plan, with Ukrainian representatives indicating that the latest version now incorporates several of their key priorities.

Negotiator Rustem Umerov, who also serves as the secretary of Ukraine's security council, stated: "The current version of the document, although still in the final stages of approval, already reflects most of Ukraine's key priorities."

The initial American proposal had conceded to some of Moscow's stringent demands, requiring Ukraine to surrender territory, reduce its military forces, and abandon aspirations to join NATO. The plan did, however, include some general security assurances and provisions for utilizing frozen Russian assets to help rebuild war-damaged Ukraine.

Trump has established a deadline of November 27, Thanksgiving Day in the United States, for Ukraine to accept the proposal, though he has suggested there might be some flexibility regarding this timeline.

Throughout his second term, President Trump's position on the Ukraine conflict has undergone dramatic shifts. The Republican businessman, who initially promised to resolve the war within "24 hours," has transitioned from expressing admiration for Russian President Putin and labeling Zelensky a "dictator," to imposing significant sanctions against Moscow and suggesting Ukraine might reclaim its territories.