President Volodymyr Zelensky said territorial issues will be the central focus of the next round of negotiations with the United States aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview with Bloomberg published on Wednesday, Feb. 11, Zelensky said Kyiv had accepted a US offer to host another round of talks next week, likely on Feb. 17-18. He said the agenda would include a US proposal to establish a free economic zone in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region as a potential buffer, an idea he described as meeting skepticism from both Kyiv and Moscow.
“None of the sides is keen on the idea of the free economic zone – neither the Russians, nor us,” Zelensky said in a phone interview from Kyiv. “We have different views on it. And agreements were as follows – let’s come back with the vision of what it may look like for the next meeting.”
US President Donald Trump’s envoys have stepped up diplomatic efforts as Russia’s war in Ukraine approaches its fifth year, with control over territory remaining the main sticking point.
Zelensky said a previous round of talks earlier this month in Abu Dhabi between Russian, Ukrainian and US officials was constructive, adding that the war could end within months if negotiations proceed in good faith.
Kyiv’s preferred approach for the Donbas, where the Kremlin continues to demand control over the entire region, including areas it has failed to capture militarily, would be to maintain troop positions along the current front line, Zelensky said. He added that Washington must clarify its position regarding control of any proposed buffer zone.
“If it is our territory – and it is our territory – then the country whose territory it is should govern it,” he said.
Zelensky also said the US administration wants all agreements to be signed simultaneously. He reiterated that any final peace proposal would require approval either by parliament or through a national referendum after active fighting ends.
Recent discussions in the United Arab Emirates focused on the mechanics of a potential ceasefire and US participation in monitoring arrangements, Zelensky said, though he noted that higher-level political decisions are still needed to finalize details.
“Russians have one wording, we have another one, the Americans have the third one,” Zelensky said. “There is an understanding that there will be monitoring, but there is also an understanding more work is needed on wording and details.”
Zelensky warned that beyond territorial and security questions, Ukraine faces major economic challenges, including reconstruction costs, social spending and long-term military financing. He said European participation would be essential, as even potential funding from frozen Russian assets would not meet long-term needs.
He also said recent Russian strikes had destroyed up to 10 gigawatts of Ukraine’s power-generating capacity, resulting in daily electricity deficits of 5 to 6 gigawatts during peak hours. Some facilities may not be fully restored before the next heating season, he added.
The Russia-Ukraine talks, mediated by the US, were held in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23-24 and Feb. 4-5.
Trump said Washington had “almost achieved” a peace settlement, while US special envoy Steve Witkoff described the negotiations as “constructive,” including discussions on a ceasefire and monitoring mechanisms. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed the assessment.
A “fundamental difference” remains in how Ukraine and Russia envision ending the war, Zelensky said following the first round of trilateral talks.
Ukraine is seeking a ceasefire in which it holds on to at least the territory it controls. Russia, by contrast, is demanding concessions that Kyiv has rejected, including withdrawal from large parts of eastern Ukraine and recognition as Russian of territories not only seized since 2022, but also of land that Russia has not be able to take in four years of brutal war.
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory and has threatened to seize the rest of the Donetsk region if talks fail. Ukraine still controls roughly one-fifth of Donetsk, including heavily fortified urban areas.
Moscow also claims the Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in full, despite only partially occupying them.