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Zelenskyy says Kyiv seeking compromises that strengthen Ukraine, not weaken it

Zelenskyy says Kyiv seeking compromises that strengthen Ukraine, not weaken it
By Tim Hume, Rory Sullivan, Brian Osgood and Faisal Ali
Published On 25 Nov 2025

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25 Nov 2025 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)

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If you’d like to read more about reactions to a US-backed plan to end the war that some worry concedes too much to a maximalist vision pushed by Russia, you can read our reporting here.

You can also learn more about the toll of continued strikes between Russia and Ukraine as the war grinds on.

25 Nov 2025 - 22:45
 (22:45 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

We will be closing the live page soon. Here’s a quick recap of the day’s main events:

  • Uncertainty remains over peace talks, with the Trump administration stating that the path towards an agreement remains “delicate” but that obstacles are “not insurmountable”. The US president said he will only meet with Putin and Zelenskyy when an agreement is in the “final stages”.
  • Following talks in Geneva with the US, Ukraine and European allies, Zelenskyy said, “We see many prospects that can make the path to peace real.”
  • European leaders cautioned that any agreement must include robust security guarantees for Kyiv to safeguard against future Russian aggression. The UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement stating that any agreement must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and long-term security.
  • A massive corruption scandal continues to make waves in Ukrainian politics, with the head of the country’s anticorruption watchdog stating that a case focused on malfeasance in the country’s energy sector could expand further.
25 Nov 2025 - 22:30
 (22:30 GMT)

Zelenskyy describes ‘long and difficult day’ in nightly address

The Ukrainian leader has said that principles hammered out in discussions with the US and European allies can be “developed into deeper agreements”. He thanked allies for their support and also lamented a “long and difficult day” as the country recovers from a wave of recent Russian strikes.

“It is in our shared interest that security is real. I count on continued active cooperation with the American side and President Trump,” Zelenskyy said.

“Much depends on the United States because it’s America’s strength that Russia takes most seriously.”

25 Nov 2025 - 22:15
 (22:15 GMT)

Ukraine discusses EU membership progress with European Commission official

Ukraine’s Deputy Presidential Chief Ihor Zhovkva met with the European Commission’s Gert Jan Koopman today to discuss progress on EU membership.

The two discussed the Geneva talks, and the readout also said Ukraine could advance its membership process as early as the end of this year, assuming consensus among EU member states.

The talks come as diplomatic efforts intensify around potential peace frameworks.

Reports suggest the Trump deal under discussion would not prevent Ukraine’s EU accession, but would block NATO membership, assuming there was consensus.

25 Nov 2025 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)

‘A deal is not imminent, but progress has been made’

By Rosiland Jordan

Reporting from Washington DC

The US president, even though his post on Truth Social seemed positive, underscored the fact that nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to.

He indicated that while he is willing to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he’s not doing so until what he calls a final deal that has been agreed upon by both sides.

That is also indicated by the fact that he has lower-level, as it were, diplomats acting on his behalf, in this case the special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who has been dealing with the Ukraine war as well as the Middle East peace process, as well as the Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, who would not normally be expected to be an interlocutor.

The fact that it is these two people, and not the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicates that a deal is not imminent, but as we can see from this social media post, progress has been made, and that is worth acknowledging.

25 Nov 2025 - 21:40
 (21:40 GMT)

Zelenskyy’s team prepares for potential Trump-Zelenskyy meeting

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff and a key interlocutor with the US as Ukraine continues negotiating Trump’s proposal, has thanked Dan Driscoll, the army secretary who has been speaking on behalf of the US with Ukrainian officials.

In a post on X, Yermak said he was expecting Driscoll in Kyiv later in the week to continue talks.

There is also a sign that Yermak positively interpreted Trump’s Truth Social post in which the US president said he would only meet Zelenskyy and Putin in “final stages” of talks earlier tonight.

Yermak said Ukraine would be “thoroughly and promptly” prepared for Trump’s anticipated tete-a-tate with Zelenskyy.

25 Nov 2025 - 21:30
 (21:30 GMT)

Rights group says peace deal should not include amnesty for war crimes

The advocacy group Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has said that an agreement ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine should include accountability for those who committed war crimes.

“When accountability is treated as essential rather than optional, societies emerging from conflict are more resilient and less likely to relapse into violence,” Uliana Poltavets, PHR Ukraine programme coordinator, said in a statement. “Russia’s widespread violations in Ukraine – like the thousands of attacks on health care documented by PHR and partners – must be met with accountability, not impunity.”

The group warned that impunity for violations of international law encourages more such violations in the future and denies justice to victims.

“Experience from around the world demonstrates that shielding perpetrators from accountability does not bring durable peace; it often emboldens them and deepens cycles of abuse,” Poltavets added.

25 Nov 2025 - 21:20
 (21:20 GMT)

European states stress Ukraine’s sovereignty and security in joint statement

The UK, France and Germany – the co-chairs of a grouping of European states – have released a joint statement on the negotiations on Ukraine. Here are some key points from their statement on the virtual meeting:

  • Any resolution to the war should preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and its long-term security.
  • They welcomed the fact that the talks between the United States and Ukraine in Geneva showed “meaningful progress”.
  • Leaders agreed to task their militaries to “forward the planning on security guarantees”.
  • Long-term financing will be made available for Ukraine, including the use of Russian assets, they said.
  • They welcomed NATO interests being discussed separately from the Ukraine negotiations.
25 Nov 2025 - 21:15
 (21:15 GMT)

Witkoff advised Moscow on how to approach Trump with Ukraine proposal: Report

The news service Bloomberg has reported that the US special envoy held a phone call in mid-October with senior Russian officials, advising Moscow on how they could pitch Trump on a possible deal to end the war.

Bloomberg cites audio files from the five-minute phone call with Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign police aide, in which Witkoff suggests that Russia could use the US-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement as a way to bring up the possibility of a similar deal in Ukraine.

“We put a 20-point Trump plan together that was 20 points for peace, and I’m thinking maybe we do the same thing with you,” Witkoff told Ushakov, according to Bloomberg.

Trump stated earlier this afternoon that he would dispatch Witkoff to Russia to hold discussions with Putin.

25 Nov 2025 - 21:00
 (21:00 GMT)
Houthi

UK, France, Germany express ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine after virtual meeting

The leaders of the major European powers backing Ukraine have released a statement after the meeting this evening of the “coalition of the willing”, which includes other nations.

We’ll bring you more shortly.

25 Nov 2025 - 20:45
 (20:45 GMT)

Ukraine holds ground in key city Pokrovsk amid Russian advances

Amid the high-level diplomacy, fighting still rages across Ukraine.

Pokrovsk, a city in the east, has been one of the key sites where troops on both sides have been engaged for months.

Last week, some analysts believed Pokrovsk had effectively fallen. However, ISW’s assessment shows Ukrainian forces still hold positions there, though Russia has committed an estimated 170,000 to 220,000 troops.

Pokrovsk serves as a critical logistics hub and gateway between Russian-held eastern territory and central Ukraine.

Russian forces have made significant advances in Pokrovsk recently, but not through sudden breakthroughs.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Moscow achieved this through a months-long campaign using fibre-optic drones to disrupt Ukrainian supply routes earlier this year.

The ISW reports that Russian forces used “battlefield air interdiction” to degrade Ukrainian logistics, which “enabled Russian infiltration missions” and weakened defensive positions.

25 Nov 2025 - 20:30
 (20:30 GMT)

Turkiye pushes for direct negotiations in Istanbul on Ukraine

As we reported earlier, Turkiye’s president attended the meeting between Europe’s leaders on Ukraine.

The Turkish presidency said that Turkiye is engaging officials in Kyiv and Moscow to hold direct talks in Istanbul again. It also proposed a ceasefire covering energy and port infrastructure on both sides, aimed at creating “favorable conditions for negotiating a comprehensive peace agreement”.

Istanbul has previously hosted high-level talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to European leaders alongside senior officials [Handout/Turkish Presidency]
25 Nov 2025 - 20:15
 (20:15 GMT)

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy addresses European leaders during virtual meeting

Ukraine’s presidency has shared a clip on X of Zelenskyy addressing his European counterparts tonight.

Zelenskyy told the leaders that “security decisions about Ukraine must involve Ukraine,” adding that the same principle applies to Europe as a whole.

As we reported earlier, Zelenskyy said he was ready to meet Trump and the presence of European leaders “could be helpful”.

25 Nov 2025 - 20:00
 (20:00 GMT)
Explainer

What do we know about the call between the ‘Coalition of the Willing’?

The self-styled “Coalition of the Willing”, a group of countries which have said they will back up a prospective ceasefire deal in support of Ukraine, held a video call earlier in the day hosted by France’s Macron and the UK’s Starmer.

That call, which was also attended by the US secretary of state, included the discussion of recent developments in the war and what a possible path towards peace might look like.

About 20 countries in the coalition have pledged to join together for a post-war “reassurance force” that would help ease Ukrainian concerns about Russia’s territorial ambitions the possibility of renewed attacks in the future.

European allies have pushed for strong security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any peace deal, and are sceptical of the Trump administration’s calls for greater territorial concessions from Kyiv, although many analysts agree some such concessions will be necessary to end the war.

Despite signals that the US will play less of a role in European security going forward, members of the coalition have stated that US support will be essential for guaranteeing any peace deal.

25 Nov 2025 - 19:45
 (19:45 GMT)
Analysis

‘European leaders will resist cap on the size of Ukraine’s army’

Domitilla Sagramoso, an academic specialising in Eastern Europe and author of Russian Imperialism Revisited, said the virtual meeting between European leaders tonight was focused on “polishing details of a multinational force”, the composition and mandate of which are closely linked to final questions about the size of Ukraine’s army and its security guarantees.

“We’ll see what happens, whether there will be a deployment of forces, and whether Russia will accept that. It seems highly unlikely. So this is a crucial point because it relates to the security guarantees,” Sagramoso told Al Jazeera.

She added that European leaders also maintained that the “main line of defence” remains the Ukrainian army, which explains their reluctance to cap its size under current negotiations.

25 Nov 2025 - 19:44
 (19:44 GMT)
Houthi

Trump says he’ll only meet Ukrainian and Russian officials in ‘final stages’ of negotiations

Donald Trump has said in a Truth Social post that he looks forward to meeting both Putin and Zelenskyy soon, “but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages.”

As we reported earlier, senior Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskyy, have expressed a hope to meet Trump “as soon as possible,” as Zelenskyy’s chief of staff put it.

Trump also said that he had directed his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Putin in Moscow and Dan Driscoll, a close ally of JD Vance, who is believed to be cold on Ukraine, to meet Ukrainian officials.

“I will be briefed on all progress made, along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles,” he said.

25 Nov 2025 - 19:30
 (19:30 GMT)

EU’s von der Leyen says Rubio joined call of Ukrainian allies

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has said that the US secretary of state joined a call held by a group of European nations spearheading greater support for Ukraine.

“Today, the partners of the Coalition of the Willing convened to discuss ongoing negotiations toward a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. In recent days and hours, we have seen solid and encouraging progress,” she said in a social media post.

“We welcomed the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during our call. We need strong transatlantic cooperation. Because it delivers.”

Von der Leyen stated that pressure “remains the only language Russia responds to” and said that Ukrainian interests are “inseparable” from those of Europe.

25 Nov 2025 - 19:15
 (19:15 GMT)

Supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and self-defence remains a priority, says Starmer

By Sonia Gallego

Reporting from Downing Street, London

What was underlined by Keir Starmer after his meeting with European leaders was his condemnation of the Russian attacks seen over the past few days.

He also noted progress in the Geneva talks and highlighted that the Coalition of the Willing, now nine months old, has expanded to include some 36 countries.

However, he emphasised that a few key issues needed to be prioritised: supporting negotiations, upholding their principles, ensuring Ukraine’s right to self-defence, that the sovereignty of Ukraine was necessary to maintain, securing long-term guarantees for lasting peace, and continuing the work on the proposed multinational force for Ukraine.

25 Nov 2025 - 19:00
 (19:00 GMT)

Despite positive tone, timeline for agreement still looks uncertain

By Kimberly Halkett

Reporting from Washington, DC

What we know is that there hasn’t been any sort of signed treaty and that there are still talks that need to take place. And it’s unclear when those talks will happen, who will be involved, and what they will look like.

But we know it’s not imminent, given the fact that the US president, despite saying that there is some momentum, is leaving on Tuesday evening here in Washington for Florida, where he will be spending the American Thanksgiving holiday. So while the White House is suggesting that there is an imminent sign of peace, it still doesn’t look clear at all when that could actually happen.

25 Nov 2025 - 18:45
 (18:45 GMT)

UK and Turkiye to join France in Ukraine workshop initiative, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron has said a decision has been made to create a workshop involving the UK and Turkiye for Ukraine.

The scope of the workshop’s mandate is not entirely clear, but earlier today, Macron told French media that, following a peace deal, British, Turkish and French soldiers would be ready to “conduct training and security operations, as we do in certain countries on NATO’s eastern flank.”