Zelenskiy Sees Potential in U.S. Proposals for Ending War

The envoys held extended talks with both Vladimir Putin and Zelenskiy, yet the fundamental divide over the Donbas region remains unresolved. Kyiv has agreed to keep the specifics of these proposals confidential while working with Washington to refine a potential framework. Rather than forcing an immediate settlement on contentious borders, the strategy appears to favor incremental progress on practical issues. Negotiators are eyeing potential deals on grain exports, energy infrastructure security, and prisoner exchanges to build the trust necessary for broader talks.

Future discussions may shift toward a trilateral format involving European partners, with Turkey, the UAE, and Switzerland emerging as potential hosts for neutral ground. Zelenskiy is slated to meet with Donald Trump later in September to secure winter air defense support, a move that could bolster Ukraine’s leverage. Despite this diplomatic activity, the territorial impasse remains the primary barrier to a comprehensive peace. Kyiv is currently prioritizing measurable, tangible outcomes over the stalled, open-ended negotiations that have characterized recent months.