Talks ongoing in US-Ukraine peace plan

(Sharecast News) - Talks to end the war in Ukraine looked to have taken a step forward on Monday, after the US agreed to modify the White House's controversial peace plans. The Trump administration threw its weight behind the proposals last week. But the leaked 28-point plan was widely seen as too favourable to Russia, including forcing Ukraine to cede territory and give up long-held ambitions to join Nato.

It also proposed using $100bn of frozen Russian assets in US-led efforts to rebuild Ukraine's shattered economy, with America taking 50% of any profits.

The Kremlin welcomed the deal, and Donald Trump gave Ukraine until the end of last week to accept it.

Trump was also sharply critical of Volodymyr Zelensky over the weekend, claiming on social media that the Ukrainian president was not being grateful enough.

However, after officials from both countries met in Switzerland over weekend, the US and Ukraine said they were now working on a "updated and refined peace framework".

In a joint statement, the two countries confirmed talks had been "highly productive" and would continue, although no specifics were provided.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said there had been a "tremendous amount of progress" but there was "still some work to be done" before the plan could be put to Russia.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said there were "signals that...Trump's team is hearing us".

Speaking on Monday to the Swedish parliament via video link, Zelensky called it a "critical moment", and said that Ukraine was working "closely with the US and other European partners to define steps" to end the war.

He added: "Putin wants legal recognition to what he has stolen, to break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"That's the main problem."