Krystyna Kazakova23:13, 15.12.25

American officials said that after intensive negotiations with Ukraine, significant differences remained on the issue of territory.

Two days of intensive talks between Ukraine, the United States and European officials have led to apparent progress on security guarantees for Ukraine. However, significant differences remain over territory, U.S. officials told Axios on Monday.

The publication said that the US plan requires Ukraine to withdraw from about 14% of the territory of Donbas that it controls and claims from Russia. According to the latest draft, this territory is to become a demilitarized “free economic zone.”

The publication adds that, according to the American official, the decision on how to resolve the territorial issue remains with Ukraine. At the same time, he added that the rest of the US proposals, including the strongest security guarantees currently offered to Ukraine, “will not be on the negotiating table forever.”

Trump advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will have dinner with Zelensky and several European leaders on Monday. Trump is expected to make a call during the dinner, according to U.S. officials.

The article also states that, according to one American official, 90% of the issues between the US and Ukraine have been resolved, while the rest require technical discussions.

“This weekend, there will probably be talks somewhere in the US, possibly in Miami, with the participation of working groups, military personnel who will study maps,” the American official said.

As an American official told the publication’s journalists, Ukrainian and European partners were surprised that the American side was ready to offer such significant security guarantees, and that they believed that Russia would agree to it.

“President Trump believes he can convince Russia to agree to guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5,” he added.

The security guarantees “must be approved by the Senate,” the US official said, but he did not say whether the administration would seek a formal agreement.

The publication notes that the peace agreement that the United States is proposing for Ukraine to sign provides Kyiv with reliable security guarantees, accelerates its path to the European Union and allocates billions for reconstruction. At the same time, significant territorial concessions will be a bitter pill for the country.

Russia, as the publication states, will not only receive the territories of Ukraine, but will also have the opportunity to reintegrate into the global economy and the community of nations.

However, officials in Kyiv and Europe fear that Ukraine may agree to painful concessions, while Russia will renege on the deal and demand even more.

(C)UNIAN 2025