\n Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a \u201cvery good\u201d conversation with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump\u2019s son-in-law Jared Kushner on Christmas Day as negotiations over the terms of a potential peace deal continued.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cI thank them for the constructive approach, the intensive work, and the kind words and Christmas greetings to the Ukrainian people,\u201d Zelensky said in a statement.\n <\/p>\n
\n The two sides discussed \u201ccertain substantive details\u201d about the ongoing peace negotiations and the conversation produced \u201csome new ideas on how to bring about real peace,\u201d Zelensky said.\n <\/p>\n
\n The Ukrainian leader was joined on the call by other diplomats, including Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov.\n <\/p>\n
\n Umerov will have additional discussions with Kushner and Witkoff later on Thursday, Zelensky said.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe believe this is the right approach \u2013 not to lose a single day or a single opportunity that can bring the result closer. May today\u2019s conversation become another step toward peace,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n
\n At a press conference in Moscow earlier on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova noted that there is \u201cslow but steady\u201d progress being made in the negotiation process between Russia and the US.\n <\/p>\n
\n She went on to accuse the European Union of remaining committed to \u201cescalating the conflict and prolonging hostilities.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n In his Christmas Day speech, Pope Leo also appealed for peace in Ukraine.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cMay the clamour of weapons cease and may the parties involved with the support and commitment of the international community find the courage to engage in sincere, direct, and respectful dialogue,\u201d the religious leader said.\n <\/p>\n
\n The Trump<\/a> administration\u2019s peace effort has made gradual progress in recent weeks.\n <\/p>\n \n Over the weekend, a Ukrainian delegation led by Umerov and Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev met separately with their American counterparts in talks that Witkoff described as \u201cconstructive and productive.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n On Tuesday, Zelensky presented new details about a 20-point plan that he described as \u201ca foundational document on ending the war<\/a>, a political document between us, America, Europe, and the Russians.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The Ukrainian president also discussed specifics of security guarantees between Ukraine, the United States, and European countries that would form a crucial part of any peace deal with Russia<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n The plan would involve Ukraine pulling back its troops from areas of the Donetsk region, Zelensky said.\n <\/p>\n \n Russia would subsequently need to withdraw its forces in a manner equivalent to the ground ceded by Ukrainian troops, effectively establishing a demilitarized zone around some of the present front lines.\n <\/p>\n \n Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that Russia is \u201ccurrently analyzing the materials\u201d of the proposal.\n <\/p>\n \n Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine must effectively cede all of Donetsk for a peace plan to work.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cWe would prefer to do this, and eliminate the root causes of the conflict, through diplomacy,\u201d Putin said<\/a> at the annual meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cIf the opposing country and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands through military means,\u201d he added.\n <\/p>\n \n Trump has asserted<\/a> that an end to the war in Ukraine is closer than ever, but an official deal that is agreeable to both sides has yet to materialize.\n <\/p>\n \n The diplomatic exchanges unfolded as Russia continues to unleash lethal strikes on Ukrainian targets.\n <\/p>\n \n The most recent campaign<\/a> has focused on Odesa, Ukraine\u2019s key port city positioned next to the Black Sea.\n <\/p>\n \n Moscow\u2019s attacks have caused power outages in the city and surrounding areas, as well as damage to port infrastructure and civilian vessels.\n <\/p>\n \n Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks this month on Ukraine on Tuesday, killing at least three people and injuring at least 17 others.\n <\/p>\n \n Kyiv\u2019s troops retreated from the town of Siversk in eastern Ukraine, according to the country\u2019s armed forces, as Russian forces pushed through \u201cactive offensive operations.\u201d\n <\/p>\n