Ukraine and Russia signalled cautious openness to a U.S.-backed draft peace plan on Thursday, with both Kyiv and Moscow suggesting it could form the basis of future negotiations — though deep disagreements remain over legitimacy and territorial status.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in Kyiv that negotiation teams were expected to meet soon and that Ukraine’s goal was to achieve tangible progress.
“Our expectations are concrete results so that progress can be made,” Sybiha said. “It is extremely important for us… to achieve a truce.”
He also confirmed Ukraine’s interest in direct contact between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump, stressing that “the most sensitive questions can only be discussed at the highest level.”
Putin says Trump plan “could be used as a basis”
Speaking at a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow viewed the 28-point U.S.-Ukraine proposal discussed in Geneva as “a possible basis for future agreements.”
“We studied this document… and in general, we agree that it can be used as a basis for future agreements,” Putin said, while adding that “it would be impolite to speak about final versions, because there are none.”
However, Putin dismissed any potential accord with Kyiv’s current leadership, claiming it had “lost legitimacy” after delaying elections under martial law.
“It is pointless to sign documents with the Ukrainian leadership,” he said. “The president lost his legitimacy after that.”
Crimea and Donbas remain key sticking points
Putin confirmed that the legal status of Crimea and Donbas was among the most sensitive issues discussed with Washington. When asked how territories could be recognised “de facto but not de jure,” he replied that it remained “one of the key topics” of ongoing talks.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated Moscow’s opposition to any Ukrainian accession to NATO, calling it “unacceptable.”
“NATO’s attempts to drag Ukraine into its orbit still pose a threat for us,” she said. “The essence of NATO’s activity is the counteraction to our country.”
NATO praises renewed diplomatic momentum
In Reykjavik, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump for “reinvigorating diplomatic momentum” around the peace process during a joint press conference with Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir.
“There’s tremendous renewed energy around the peace process, and for that, I want to commend U.S. President Trump,” Rutte said, adding that NATO remained focused on strengthening defence and sustaining support for Ukraine “against Russia’s ongoing war of aggression.”
Outlook
While both Kyiv and Moscow cautiously acknowledged the U.S.-led framework, their positions on legitimacy and territorial recognition remain far apart. The coming weeks — and any potential Zelenskyy–Trump meeting — will likely determine whether this renewed diplomatic momentum can translate into meaningful progress toward peace.
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Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have strengthened their energy partnership with the launch of a joint exploration project in the Ustyurt region, highlighting growing strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum commenced on Saturday in the Qatari capital, focusing on the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress.”
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 23rd Doha Forum in Qatar, aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries.
Uzbekistan has signed a major financing agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), securing $500 million to support the country’s shift toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has finalized the group stage for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, setting the schedule and matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team event.
Israel was cleared on Thursday to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, a decision made by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which sparked a major controversy.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for its support of the claims by United Arab Emirates on three Iranian islands.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy that highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its ties with the European Union.
The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum commenced on Saturday in the Qatari capital, focusing on the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress.”
A railway hub near Kyiv was struck during a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault, damaging the depot and railway carriages, the Ukrainian state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia reported on Saturday.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Flood survivors in Indonesia’s Aceh Tamiang district say they had to live off looted shop goods for days, accusing authorities of a slow aid response more than a week after deadly floods and landslides tore through their communities.
Australia has moved to directly pressure the Taliban leadership, imposing financial sanctions and travel bans on four senior officials it says are responsible for the steady erosion of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
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