Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that he will “soon” send a revised version of the peace plan proposed by the United States to his North American counterpart, Donald Trump, after a series of contacts with European leaders.
“We are committed to true peace and we maintain constant contact with the United States. And, as our partners in the negotiating teams correctly point out, everything depends on Russia being prepared to take effective measures to stop the bloodshed and prevent a new war from breaking out”, he declared in a message posted on the social network X, during a meeting in Rome with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
Later, in statements to journalists, Zelensky stated that he hopes to deliver the new version of the plan to Washington on Wednesday.
“We are working today and will continue tomorrow. I think we will deliver it tomorrow [quarta-feira]”, said Zelensky, asked by journalists whether the plan had already been sent to Washington.
Today’s meeting takes place after Volodymyr Zelensky met the previous day, in London and Brussels, with European and NATO partners, and in the midst of bilateral negotiations between White House envoys with Russia on the end of the conflict that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022.
“We are actively working on all elements of possible measures to end the war. The Ukrainian and European proposals are now more advanced and we are prepared to present them to our partners in the United States”, said the Ukrainian President today, who hopes to “make these measures viable as quickly as possible”.
Upon receiving Zelensky in the courtyard of the Chigi Palace, headquarters of the Italian Government, Meloni, Trump’s ally in Europe and who has always shown support for Kiev, greeted him with a hug, and then held a closed-door meeting lasting an hour and a half.
Later, the Ukrainian President reported, through the X network, that the meeting had been “excellent and very substantial”, in which “all aspects” of the diplomatic situation were addressed.
“We appreciate Italy’s active role in creating practical ideas and defining measures to bring peace closer. I informed her about the work of our negotiating team and we are coordinating our diplomatic efforts. We are extremely grateful for Italy’s continued support; this is important for Ukraine,” expressed Zelensky.
The Ukrainian President also thanked the Italian Prime Minister for the promised aid package and the supply of power generators.
“This is exactly what will support Ukrainian families, our people, our children and everyday life in our cities and communities, which continue to suffer constant Russian attacks. We need to protect lives. Thank you, Italy!”, he concluded.
Before meeting with Meloni, Zelensky visited Pope Leo XIV at his residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.
During the audience, the American pontiff reiterated “the need to continue dialogue and renewed his urgent desire that ongoing diplomatic initiatives lead to a just and lasting peace”, according to a statement from the Holy See.
The Ukrainian President announced on Monday that Kiev is preparing an alternative plan to present to Washington negotiators, while reaffirming that he will not cede any territory to Russia.
On the other hand, Zelensky also responded to journalists who questioned him, leaving a hotel in Rome, about Trump’s call for elections in Ukraine, left in an interview published by the newspaper “Politico”.
“I’m always ready,” he replied succinctly.
Zelensky’s five-year term was supposed to end in May last year, but elections were not held due to martial law imposed due to the war with Russia.
The withdrawal from the Donbas region, as well as Ukraine’s renunciation of NATO membership, the security guarantee and post-war Russian reparations are some of the points on which neither the belligerent parties nor the mediators were able to reach an agreement.
Last week, the negotiations were marked by meetings between the White House special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, and with the Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov in Miami, without any agreement having been reached so far.