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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Wednesday with a high-level American delegation to discuss reconstruction plans and a revised peace framework, marking what he characterized as significant progress in efforts to chart a path forward for the war-torn nation.
The Ukrainian leader held discussions with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, focusing on economic recovery strategies and refinements to a 20-point document intended to outline steps toward ending the nearly three-year conflict with Russia.
"Together with our team, I held a productive discussion with the American side," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, thanking Trump "and his team for their substantive work and support."
The meeting represented the first formal gathering of a working group dedicated to Ukraine's reconstruction and economic revitalization, according to Zelenskyy. He indicated that follow-up sessions between the Ukrainian and American teams have been scheduled, emphasizing that Kyiv would pursue the work without delays.
In a separate evening address, Zelenskyy addressed growing international discussion about holding elections while Ukraine remains under martial law. The Ukrainian president said that if Washington and other partner nations raise specific questions about conducting elections during wartime, Ukrainian legislators must provide comprehensive legal responses to address every concern.
Ukraine's constitution prohibits national elections during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia's February 2022 invasion. Zelenskyy's term technically expired in May, though he has remained in office under wartime provisions.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian officials were putting final touches on the 20-point document and planned to deliver it to Washington in the coming days, following consultations with European partners. The framework has been substantially revised from earlier versions, which Ukrainian officials said initially contained 28 points and included provisions they deemed incompatible with Ukrainian interests.
The Ukrainian leader described ongoing diplomatic engagement as virtually continuous, with representatives communicating with international partners around the clock to identify realistic pathways to ending hostilities while ensuring any settlement provides reliable security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also announced plans for a December sanctions package aimed at Russia's tanker fleet, which he said enables Moscow's military operations. The Ukrainian president pledged to coordinate the measures with European allies.
He cited intelligence assessments suggesting Russia's deepening economic reliance on China, claiming no previous period in Russian history involved such extensive surrender of sovereignty to Beijing in order to sustain a war effort.
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