Ukraine is working closely with the United States and other allies to refine a possible peace framework, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday, stressing that Kyiv will only consider proposals that do not weaken the country’s long-term security. His remarks came during the second day of discussions in Switzerland, where Washington recently floated a plan that would require concessions from Kyiv, according to diplomats familiar with the talks.
Speaking via video link from Sweden, where he attended a gathering of countries backing the return of Crimea to Ukrainian control, Zelenskiy said Kyiv and its partners are still looking for points of agreement that strengthen Ukraine rather than box it into a vulnerable position. “We all continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen but not weaken us,” he said.
The discussions in Switzerland follow a joint statement on Sunday in which Washington and Kyiv confirmed they had drafted what they called a refined peace framework. Neither side disclosed the specifics, but officials say the talks revolve around security guarantees, conditions for potential ceasefire arrangements, and the future status of occupied territories.
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Zelenskiy underlined that any settlement must include financial accountability for the invasion. He repeated his insistence that frozen Russian assets held in Europe and North America should be redirected to reconstruction and humanitarian recovery. “Russia must pay for the war in Ukraine,” he said, adding that decisions on seized assets have become “crucial”.
Those remarks reflect growing anxiety in Kyiv, where officials believe Moscow is trying to exploit political divisions among Ukraine’s supporters. “Right now, we are at a critical moment,” Zelenskiy warned. “There is a lot of noise in the media and all the political pressure, and even greater responsibility for the decisions ahead.”
Ukraine’s Western allies have maintained public support for Kyiv, although diplomatic sources told Reuters that the United States has been urging Ukraine to consider options that might reduce the intensity of the conflict while avoiding outright capitulation. European partners, meanwhile, are divided, with some governments pushing for continued military aid and others quietly signalling that a negotiated path might be necessary if battlefield conditions do not improve.
The talks in Switzerland are part of a broader effort that began earlier this year, when more than eighty countries met in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock to discuss principles for ending the war. Russia refused to attend and has continued to attack Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure during the diplomatic outreach.
As negotiations continue, Ukrainian officials say the government will consult closely with all security partners before taking any step that could alter its position. More talks are expected in coming weeks, with Washington hoping to secure at least a framework agreement before major political transitions in Europe and the United States reshape the diplomatic landscape.