Ukraine and the United States have entered the final stage of discussing the 20-point peace plan, but two key issues – territories and security guarantees – remain unresolved. Kyiv is counting on the power of the United States to force Moscow to adhere to the agreements. In parallel, Europe is looking for its own role in the post-war security architecture, while Russia is trying to impose its own agenda.
Zelensky: Ukraine is counting on the power of the United States to implement the 20-point peace plan
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a conversation with journalists, commenting on the question: is there a response from the Russian side to the draft of the 20-point peace plan. According to him, Ukraine generally agrees with most of the provisions of the plan, with the exception of two key positions. According to him, these points remain the subject of tough discussions, while Kyiv is ready to move forward with the rest. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine views the document as an “American plan” and hopes for the US’s ability to ensure its implementation by all parties.
“And we hope for the strength of the United States of America that the Russian side will also agree to all points,” he said.
At the same time, the president clearly outlined the boundaries of possible compromises, highlighting, that Ukraine is not ready for decisions that violate its territorial integrity. Let us recall that we are talking primarily about the Donetsk region, as well as the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which Zelensky attributed to a single block of territorial issues. He noted that the American side understands Kyiv’s position and offers options for compromise, in particular in the format of a free economic zone, but control over the territories should remain with Ukraine. According to the president, final decisions on the territories are possible only at the level of state leaders.
US signs multi-year contract to maintain F-16s for Ukraine
The US Department of Defense has signed a contract worth more than $235 million for maintenance of F-16 fighters, including those transferred to Ukraine. The contractor is the Belgian company Sabena Aerospace Engineering, which specializes in aviation services. The contract provides for comprehensive maintenance of aircraft and engines, as well as support for logistics systems for the Ukrainian side. This decision formalizes the long-term participation of the US in ensuring the combat capability of Ukrainian aviation.
The work will be performed at the company's facility in the city of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert in Belgium and will last until January 28, 2029.
The American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Fund has moved on to the selection of investment projects
The American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund has completed the first stage of consideration of applications submitted through the Investportal in January. According to the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, in the first three weeks of the platform’s operation, the Fund received 59 investment proposals. Most of them came from Ukrainian companies operating in the Fund’s priority sectors – energy, transport, critical minerals, ICT and new technologies. Based on the results of the preliminary selection, 22 projects moved on to the next stage of processing.
The Ministry emphasized that the Fund assesses not only financial parameters, but also the strategic importance of initiatives for the country’s economy.
“We have seen high-quality projects in critical sectors,” he noted.
Specific projects are not yet disclosed until all checks are completed, and final decisions on financing are expected at the end of March 2026. The Fund was created by Ukraine and the United States on a parity basis and has an initial capital of $150 million, with a focus on investments in equity and quasi-equity instruments.
Kremlin again invites Zelensky to Moscow for talks, – Reuters
The Kremlin said, that it has again invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Moscow for peace talks. Russian officials said this amid intensified US efforts to end the war. The statement came after another exchange of bodies of the dead and against the backdrop of new rounds of talks in the Abu Dhabi format. At the same time, the Russian side refused to comment on rumors about the cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure.
Despite diplomatic activity, deep disagreements remain between the parties over territories, peacekeepers and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Zelensky previously rejected a similar invitation, saying that he could not travel to the capital of a country that shelled his country every day. The Kremlin says that any meeting should be “well-prepared and productive.” Against this backdrop, Russian hardliners, including Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, have openly opposed the talks and called for the war to continue.
Denmark, US return Greenland talks to constructive track
Denmark Responds to the U.S.: "We Do Not Appreciate This Tone" said, that the talks with the US on Greenland, which took place in Washington, were constructive. According to him, after a tense period, the parties were able to reduce the degree of conflict and return to a substantive dialogue. Rasmussen noted that he was now more optimistic than a week ago about the possibility of finding a mutually acceptable solution.
"There was a serious deviation from the course, the situation was escalating, but now we are back on track," he said.
The Danish minister refrained from disclosing details of the talks, emphasizing only that the discussions focused on the balance between US security interests and Danish sovereignty. He emphasized that Copenhagen is not ready to cross its own "red lines" on territorial issues. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the low-key format of the meeting was deliberately chosen to avoid excessive media attention. This indicates the desire of the parties to reduce public tension around a sensitive topic.
Photo: Reuters
Author: Danylo Pievchev