The United States (US) and Ukraine have agreed to continue work towards ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. Both countries committed following last weekend’s “highly productive” peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, with the war between the two European nations raging for over a decade now.
It is understood that the US has proposed a 20-point peace plan that includes input from Russia.
According to a White House report of the Geneva talks, “based on the revisions and clarifications presented today,” the Ukrainians “believe the current draft reflects their national interests”
The BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford, based in Geneva, indicates that Ukraine is engaging with the process because it can’t afford to lose US support.
European leaders have criticised the 28-point plan, saying it was too favourable to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the Swedish parliament via video link, said it is “a critical moment” and that Ukraine is working “closely with the US and other European partners to define steps” to end the war.
He said, “Putin wants legal recognition of what he has stolen… not only from Ukraine, he wants it from the whole world, and it’s very dangerous.”
Zelensky adds that during the talks with the US, they managed to keep “very sensitive points” on the table, including the release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.
He, however, said there was more to do and called for decisions on the use of frozen Russian assets.
“The aggressor must pay fully for the war he started,” Zelensky told the Swedish parliament.
