By Mitchell McCluskey, Svitlana Vlasova, and Darya Tarasova
(CNN) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a “very good” conversation with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner on Christmas Day as negotiations over the terms of a potential peace deal continued.
“I thank them for the constructive approach, the intensive work, and the kind words and Christmas greetings to the Ukrainian people,” Zelensky said in a statement.
The two sides discussed “certain substantive details” about the ongoing peace negotiations and the conversation produced “some new ideas on how to bring about real peace,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian leader was joined on the call by other diplomats, including Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov.
Umerov will have additional discussions with Kushner and Witkoff later on Thursday, Zelensky said.
“We believe this is the right approach – not to lose a single day or a single opportunity that can bring the result closer. May today’s conversation become another step toward peace,” he said.
At a press conference in Moscow earlier on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova noted that there is “slow but steady” progress being made in the negotiation process between Russia and the US.
She went on to accuse the European Union of remaining committed to “escalating the conflict and prolonging hostilities.”
In his Christmas Day speech, Pope Leo also appealed for peace in Ukraine.
“May 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,” the religious leader said.
The Trump administration’s peace effort has made gradual progress in recent weeks.
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 “constructive and productive.”
On Tuesday, Zelensky presented new details about a 20-point plan that he described as “a foundational document on ending the war, a political document between us, America, Europe, and the Russians.”
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.
The plan would involve Ukraine pulling back its troops from areas of the Donetsk region, Zelensky said.
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.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that Russia is “currently analyzing the materials” of the proposal.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine must effectively cede all of Donetsk for a peace plan to work.
“We would prefer to do this, and eliminate the root causes of the conflict, through diplomacy,” Putin Read more