Ukraine Seeks US Meeting as Peace Talks with Russia Progress

Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council head, Rustem Umerov, has expressed hopes to arrange a visit for President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States at the earliest opportunity this month. This comes amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia that has persisted since 2022.

Umerov stated on Tuesday that both Ukraine and the United States have reached a consensus on the fundamental terms discussed in prior negotiations held in Geneva. However, the White House has yet to comment on the potential for a meeting between President Zelensky and former President Donald Trump.

In a separate development, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has been engaging with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi, although the identities of those in the Russian delegation remain undisclosed.

Umerov expressed optimism, stating, "We look forward to organising President Zelensky's visit to the US at the earliest suitable date in November to complete the final steps and reach an agreement with President Trump."

A US official accompanying Driscoll in Abu Dhabi indicated to reporters that Ukraine had tentatively agreed to a peace deal, pending resolution of minor details. However, the US administration referred to comments made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who indicated that higher-level discussions were still necessary to finalise any agreement.

The divergence in acceptable terms between Ukraine and Russia continues to be substantial, with the Kremlin unlikely to consent to a deal that Kyiv might find acceptable. Ukrainian and European leaders have previously voiced concerns regarding an initial draft of a 28-point peace plan proposed by the US, labelling it excessively advantageous to Russia.

Counter-proposals, reportedly developed by officials from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, included provisions that did not acknowledge Russian-controlled territories, allowed for an increase in Ukraine's military size, and left the possibility open for Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

President Zelensky welcomed the proposed alterations to the 28-point plan, commenting, "The list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable now. Many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework."

In response, a Kremlin spokesperson dismissed the revisions as "completely unconstructive." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who did not attend the Abu Dhabi meeting, remarked that Moscow had yet to receive the interim version of the revised plan, stressing that it should adhere to the principles established during the Alaska talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in August.

In a parallel effort, a virtual meeting of Ukraine's European allies, termed a "coalition of the willing," took place on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that he had a "good and very productive" conversation with President Zelensky regarding the meeting's agenda.

The latest discussions occurred following a series of missile and drone attacks between Ukrainian and Russian forces, which intensified overnight. President Zelensky reported that Ukraine faced 22 missile strikes and over 460 drone assaults, resulting in fires at two residential high-rise buildings in central Ukraine and claiming at least six lives.

Conversely, the Russian defence ministry stated that they intercepted 249 Ukrainian drones overnight, affecting areas over the Black Sea and the Kursk region, while reporting three fatalities in the Rostov area.

Since the commencement of Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, tens of thousands of military personnel and countless civilians have suffered casualties, with millions displaced from their homes.

In light of the discussions in Geneva over the weekend, Trump remarked that "something good just may be happening" but cautioned, "Don't believe it until you see it."

While Zelensky acknowledged the proposed adjustments, he highlighted that the "main problem" remains President Putin's insistence on legal recognition of the territories seized by Russia.

Russia has consistently demanded a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the eastern Donbas region, encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk, along with control over Crimea and significant portions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, stated that the final peace agreement must ensure that Russia cannot invade again and asserted that Russia should "definitely not" be allowed to rejoin the Group of Eight.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she remarked, "We cannot revert to business as usual... how could you imagine that?"