Zelenskyy encouraged by 'very good' Christmas talks with US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism Thursday astir nan advancement of bid negotiations aft speaking pinch Jared Kushner and U.S. typical envoy Steve Witkoff.

Zelenskyy said nan Christmas speech centered connected ongoing efforts to extremity nan warfare and move toward a durable, lasting peace.

"Today we had a very bully speech pinch President Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff @SEPeaceMissions and @jaredkushner," he wrote connected X, thanking them for their "intensive work" and "constructive approach."

"We are genuinely moving 24/7 to bring person nan extremity of this sadistic Russian warfare against Ukraine and to guarantee that each documents and steps are realistic, effective, and reliable," Zelenskyy said.

RUSSIAN CRUISE MISSILES HIT US COMPANY IN MASSIVE UKRAINE STRIKE AMID TRUMP'S PEACE PUSH

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. typical envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and European leaders airs for a photograph during talks astatine nan Chancellery successful Berlin, Dec. 15, 2025. (Lisi Niesner/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian officials person met pinch Witkoff and Kushner aggregate times successful Miami successful caller weeks to talk imaginable elements of a bid scheme aimed astatine ending astir 4 years of fighting.

Zelenskyy said Monday that nan draft bid framework has been reduced to 20 points from 28 and includes projected information guarantees involving Ukraine, European friends and nan United States, on pinch an first outline for Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

The Ukrainian president said nan model includes a abstracted archive connected bilateral information guarantees pinch nan United States that would apt require reappraisal by nan U.S. Congress.

Zelenskyy cautioned that immoderate differences remain, noting that some Ukraine and Russia person positions they are not prepared to judge arsenic U.S. talks pinch Russian officials continue.

PUTIN REJECTS KEY PARTS OF US PEACE PLAN AS KREMLIN OFFICIAL WARNS EUROPE FACES NEW WAR RISK: REPORT

Paramedics dainty Valentina, who was wounded successful an onslaught connected a residential area successful Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, Dec. 15, 2025. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said astatine a property briefing Thursday that talks betwixt Washington and Moscow were moving guardant gradually, while accusing unnamed Western European countries of trying to undermine nan process.

Zakharova said negotiations had shown "slow but dependable progress," but were being accompanied by what she described arsenic "extremely harmful and moreover malicious attempts" to derail diplomatic efforts, according to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested past week that Russia’s goals successful Ukraine are unchanged and will beryllium accomplished either done negotiations aliases by further subject advances if negotiated efforts fail.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks astatine a ceremonial awarding nan Gold Star badge of nan Hero of Russia aft nan yearly committee gathering of nan Defense Ministry successful Moscow connected Dec. 17, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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"The goals of nan typical subject cognition will undoubtedly beryllium achieved," he said, utilizing nan Kremlin's word to mention to Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion.

"We would for illustration to execute this and reside nan guidelines causes of nan conflict done negotiated means. However, if nan opposing broadside and its overseas patrons garbage to prosecute successful substantive dialogue, Russia will execute nan liberation of its humanities lands by subject means," nan Russian leader told subject officials, according to a transcript of nan reside released by nan government.