Ukraine ceasefire talks unlikely…"Unable to find common ground with the US on territorial issues"

Four-way talks between Ukraine, the UK, France and Germany

Discussed security guarantees instead of territorial issues

US side demands giving up Donbas

Zelensky "No right to give anything up"

Leaders from Ukraine and major European countries discussed plans for ending the war and postwar security guarantees. However, they failed to find common ground on territorial issues, making it unlikely that a peace agreement will be reached in the short term.

On the 8th (local time), according to Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the UK and held talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The meeting lasted about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

The main agenda of the meeting was a peace plan devised under the Trump administration. The revised peace plan was reduced from the original 28 items to 20, and Ukraine's views were more reflected.

The leaders reportedly focused the talks on security guarantees and the use of Russia's frozen assets rather than territory among the major issues. President Zelensky said after the talks, "An alternative to the US peace plan is in its final stages," but added, "(The core parts of) the security guarantees have not yet been decided."

Ukraine wants the United States to guarantee security. President Zelensky said, "The strongest guarantee would come from the United States, and if that guarantee has legal binding force and is passed by the US Congress, it could bring us closer to an agreement."

Territorial issues remain an obstacle. President Zelensky said, "We have not yet found a compromise with the United States regarding territory," and asserted, "Under Ukrainian law and international law, (Ukraine) has no right to give anything up."

On the 7th, President Trump expressed dissatisfaction, saying President Zelensky was delaying negotiations and had not even read the US proposal. The United States is said to be maintaining the position that Ukraine must give up the Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk) region. Russia is demanding the transfer of the entire Donbas region.

Leaders of major European countries hinted that there are elements of the US peace plan they do not agree with. Before the meeting, Chancellor Merz said, "I am skeptical of some of the content proposed by the US." Prime Minister Starmer said, "If a ceasefire is achieved, it must be a just and sustainable ceasefire," and added, "We stand with Ukraine."

However, they toned down their remarks out of consideration for the United States. President Zelensky emphasized, "There are things that cannot be resolved without the United States, and things that cannot be resolved without Europe."

Ukraine plans to share the revised peace plan with the United States on the 9th after consultations with European leaders. President Zelensky is scheduled to meet in Brussels, Belgium with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the European Council. The issue of EU financial support for Ukraine is expected to be discussed. Afterwards, President Zelensky will meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Italy.

Myeong-hyun Han Reporter wise@hankyung.com