UPDATE - Zelenskyy sees ‘new chance to finish war’ as Kyiv, partners discuss peace framework

UPDATE WITH ZELENSKYY REMARKS, CHANGES HL/DECK/LEDE, MINOR EDITS

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that the country has a "new chance to finish this war" following meetings in Kyiv with national security advisors from the Coalition of the Willing member states.

"Today, three panels were held involving Ukraine’s negotiating team and 18 participants from various countries and institutions," Zelenskyy said on Telegram, adding that the primary focus was on security guarantees, rebuilding, and a "basic framework for a real peace."

On the next steps, the president announced that a meeting of chiefs of general staff will take place on Monday, followed by a leaders-level meeting in Paris on Tuesday.

"After these contacts, we expect a productive joint meeting with representatives of the United States," Zelenskyy added.

Earlier, Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said national security advisers from Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark came to Kyiv, along with representatives of NATO, the European Council, and the European Commission, for what he described as an intensive working day focused on security, economic issues. and coordination on framework documents.

“The first block of the meeting focused on framework documents, in particular security guarantees and approaches to the peace plan, as well as the sequence of further joint steps,” Umerov said, adding that the aim is to ensure decisions are “realistic and backed by shared responsibility.”

- No violations of Ukraine’s constitutional order or sovereignty

Following the meeting, Ukrainian Chief of General Staff Andrii Hnatov said Kyiv has already done bilateral work with the United States at the general staff level and agreed on a separate military document, according to the state-run Ukrinform news agency.

He said the document details support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including supply, restoration, and modernization, as well as mechanisms for monitoring compliance and responding to potential violations.

“Now exactly the same work is being carried out with other partner countries, and one of the sections of the document concerns the activities of the Coalition of the Willing,” he added.

First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia said national security advisers will brief their leaders ahead of Tuesday’s Paris meeting, with political approval of key elements expected within a short timeframe.

Kyslytsia stressed that the draft texts do not violate Ukraine’s constitutional order or sovereignty and said no pressure was exerted on Kyiv during the discussions.

Presidential adviser Oleksandr Bevz said there were no differences of opinion with partners on how Ukraine can best protect its interests, adding that there were no problems in talks on territorial issues or the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The talks in Kyiv are part of a series of diplomatic efforts as US-mediated negotiations continue toward a settlement of the nearly four-year-long Russia-Ukraine war.

"We are thankful that on the diplomatic path, we are also not alone," Zelenskyy said, thanking partner states and their leaders for their "consistent support."