Zelenskyy says Ukraine territory is 'most difficult' issue in US peace deal ahead of his meeting with Witkoff

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the sticking point in the US-brokered peace deal is the Russian demand for land concessions, ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Tuesday.

Zelenskyy has said that “the territorial issue is the most difficult”, as Russia refuses to budge on its demand of Kyiv giving up areas of the eastern Donbas region. Meanwhile, Ukraine is also steadfast on the region’s independence from Moscow’s stronghold.

His comments came as he met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday, where other EU members rallied support for Ukraine, including those of the UK, Germany, Poland, and Italy.

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‘Tough issues to work through’

Zelenskyy called on Ukraine’s Western allies to ensure Russia was not rewarded for the war it started, and said he hoped to hold talks with Trump after his special envoy Steve Witkoff had visited Russia this week.

Macron told reporters that only Ukraine could decide on its territories in peace negotiations with Russia.

Macron later discussed Ukraine in a call with Trump, the Elysee said, adding that they “discussed the conditions for a robust and lasting peace in Ukraine”.

Macron later discussed Ukraine in a call with Trump, the Elysee said, adding that they “discussed the conditions for a robust and lasting peace in Ukraine”.

The French president had “emphasised the crucial importance of the security guarantees necessary for Ukraine”, the Elysee said.

Earlier, Zelenskyy made clear that Ukrainian and US negotiators had not yet fully hammered out revisions to the proposed US plan, despite two rounds of talks to adjust terms that initially endorsed Russia’s main wartime demands.

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There were “some tough issues that still have to be worked through”, Zelenskyy posted following Sunday’s US-Ukrainian talks at a Florida luxury golf resort built by Trump’s fellow real estate magnate Witkoff.

US-Ukraine talks in Florida

The White House on Monday said it was “very optimistic” that a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war could soon be reached, as Witkoff travels to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

“I think the administration feels very optimistic,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

She noted that President Donald Trump and his team “have been working so hard on this effort and they all really want to see this war come to an end.”

“Just yesterday… they had very good talks with the Ukrainians in Florida and now of course Special Envoy Witkoff is on his way to Russia,” she added.

With inputs from agencies