- If US speaks 'concretely' about holding elections under martial law, Ukraine must provide 'legal answers to every question and every doubt,' says Zelenskyy

ISTANBUL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Wednesday that he held "productive" discussions with an American delegation, including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, on Ukraine’s reconstruction and updates to a 20-point plan to end the war.

"Together with our team, I held a productive discussion with the American side – Scott Bessent, Jared Kushner, and (BlackRock CEO) Larry Fink," Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

He said the talks could be considered the "first meeting of the group" tasked with working on a document concerning the reconstruction and economic recovery of his country.

Zelenskyy confirmed that the next contacts between the teams have been agreed upon, noting there will be "no delays" on the Ukrainian side as they work to deliver results.

"I thank President (Donald) Trump and his team for their substantive work and support," he said.

Elections concern

Later, Zelenskyy noted the discourse surrounding potential elections during the war.

He noted in an evening address that if partners, particularly in Washington, speak "concretely" about holding elections under the legal regime of martial law, Ukraine must provide "legal answers to every question and every doubt," emphasizing that he expects Ukrainian lawmakers to propose their vision on the matter.

He also cited intelligence reports on Russia's growing economic dependence on Beijing, claiming that in Russian history, no one has surrendered sovereignty "so strongly in favor of China" to maintain a war effort.

Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine is preparing a new sanctions package for December targeting the "tanker fleet" that supports Russia's military operations, pledging to coordinate the pressures with European partners.

Kyiv finalizing 20-point document

Before the meeting with American officials, Zelenskyy said Kyiv was finalizing the 20-point document with the intention of delivering it to the US in the "near future," following work with partners in Europe.

He previously noted that diplomatic efforts involve communicating with partners "virtually 24/7" to identify realistic steps to end the conflict, ensuring the outcome is reliable for Ukraine.

Highlighting a meeting of the "coalition of the willing," the Ukrainian leader emphasized productive efforts to guarantee future security and prevent a recurrence of attacks from Moscow.

Zelenskyy’s remarks follow talks between Kyiv, Washington and European capitals on the reduced US-backed 20-point peace framework, after earlier drafts were narrowed from 28 points and stripped of what Ukrainian officials described as non-Ukrainian provisions.