Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the Ukrainian and Russian leaders need to meet in person to resolve the most difficult issues in peace negotiations and asserted that only U.S. President Donald Trump has the power to bring about a final agreement.
Speaking to Reuters in Kyiv, Sybiha said Ukraine wants to accelerate efforts to end the four-year war and take advantage of momentum in the U.S.-brokered talks before factors such as the U.S. Congressional midterm elections come into play.
“Only Trump can stop the war,” Sybiha said. From a 20-point peace plan forming the basis of recent trilateral negotiations, only a few items remain unresolved, primarily those requiring leaders’ level decisions on sensitive issues such as territory.
Russia continues to demand Ukraine cede the remaining 20% of Donetsk under Ukrainian control, while Kyiv insists on maintaining authority over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located in Russian-occupied territory.
During a second round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi this week, no breakthrough was reported, though an exchange of 314 prisoners of war was completed on Thursday — the first since October. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that the U.S. proposed a new round of talks in Miami next week, which Ukraine accepted.
“We have momentum… we’re ready to speed up,” Sybiha said, emphasizing the need for consolidation and accelerated peace efforts.
Nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Moscow occupies nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine, while targeted bombings have devastated electricity and heating infrastructure. Analysts note Russia has gained only about 1.3% of Ukrainian territory since early 2023.
Western Security Guarantees Are Key
Ukraine is seeking Western security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression once a ceasefire is in place. Sybiha said the U.S. has confirmed it is prepared to ratify security guarantees in Congress and provide a security backstop, though no U.S. troops would be deployed on Ukrainian soil.
A statement from the recent “coalition of the willing” meeting in Paris indicated allied participation in a proposed U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, likely involving drones, sensors, and satellites. Some additional countries have also confirmed readiness to send troops as a deterrence force, though details remain undisclosed.
Sybiha said Ukraine seeks a security mechanism similar to NATO’s Article Five, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Kyiv also views EU membership by 2027 as an additional layer of security, contingent on reforms and legislation.
Ukraine Rejects Deals Threatening Sovereignty
Zelenskiy has voiced concern over U.S.-Russia bilateral talks, including a proposal from Moscow for $12 trillion in investments. Sybiha stressed that Ukraine would not accept agreements affecting its sovereignty or security made without its involvement.
He reaffirmed that any international recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea or the Donbas would be legally void. “We will never recognise this. It is a violation of international law,” Sybiha said. “This is about principle, not just Ukraine.”