Axios reported on US pressure on Zelensky to agree on a peace plan

The United States has increased pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, insisting on making territorial concessions as part of the peace plan of American leader Donald Trump. This was reported on December 9 by the Axios portal with reference to Ukrainian officials.

"It seemed <...> that the Americans wanted Zelensky to accept all this during a phone call," one of the Ukrainian representatives is quoted as saying in the publication.

According to the newspaper, negotiations between representatives of the United States and Ukraine in recent days have focused on Russia's demands for the transfer of the entire Donbas under its control, as well as the issue of providing Kiev with reliable security guarantees. Sources claim that Washington's latest proposals have become tougher after the meeting of the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Steve Witkoff, and the son-in-law of the American leader, businessman Jared Kushner, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.

The Ukrainian side insists that the American plan in its current form contains unfavorable conditions. According to her, the pressure on Kiev is allegedly much stronger than on Russia.

It is noted that American representatives reject the accusations and claim that Washington is allegedly seeking concessions from Moscow.

Son-in-law and divide: how Kushner's participation affects the chances of a U.S. peace plan for Ukraine

What role does Trump's relative play in resolving the conflict and is Washington's strategy towards Moscow changing?

The US Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, said on Fox News on December 8 that Trump would abandon further initiatives to resolve the conflict in Ukraine if he decided that a deal between Kiev and Moscow was impossible.

As Whitaker noted, both sides are needed to conclude an appropriate agreement — both the Russian Federation and Ukraine, and Trump understands this.

Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko (listed in the Russian Federation as a terrorist and extremist) said on the same day that Zelensky was dragging his feet in the process of a peaceful settlement of the conflict and annoying the United States with this.

On December 7, Trump spoke about his disappointment in Zelensky due to the fact that he has not yet read the US peace proposal.

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