Ukraine-U.S. security guarantees document ready for finalization at highest level: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that a document on U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine is being prepared for finalization at the highest level.

"The bilateral document on security guarantees for Ukraine is now essentially ready for finalization at the highest level with the President of the United States," Zelenskyy said on X after a conversation with Ukraine's top peace negotiator Rustem Umerov on the results of the peace talks in France.

Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian delegation discussed documents related to recovery and economic development with the U.S. and European partners, as well as the basic framework for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The U.S. side will engage with Russia, and Ukraine expects feedback, he added.

The Ukrainian negotiation team on Wednesday held talks with national security advisors from several European countries, White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law. The discussions focused on ways to end the conflict and provide security guarantees for Ukraine.

Also on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement that any military units and facilities deployed by Western countries on Ukrainian territory will be regarded as legitimate targets of the Russian Armed Forces.

"These warnings have been issued repeatedly at the highest level and remain valid," she said, adding that the deployment of Western facilities will be deemed foreign intervention, which poses a direct threat to the security of not only Russia but also other European states.

The new militaristic declarations issued by the so-called coalition of willing parties and Ukraine have turned them into a veritable "axis of war," she said.

Zakharova stressed that the West's plan for the further militarization of Ukraine is far from a peaceful settlement, but rather aimed at continuing militarization, escalating and expanding the conflict.

The statement said a peaceful settlement of the conflict is possible only by addressing its root causes, including restoring Ukraine's neutral, non-aligned status, its demilitarization and "denazification," respect for the linguistic, cultural and religious rights of ethnic Russians, Russian-speaking citizens and national minorities, and recognition of the current territorial realities.

Zakharova said these goals would be achieved either through political and diplomatic means or through the special military operation, adding that Russian forces retain the initiative on the battlefield.

Ukraine-U.S. security guarantees document ready for finalization at highest level: Zelenskyy

Ukraine-U.S. security guarantees document ready for finalization at highest level: Zelenskyy

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company of the United States, in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that China's economy is deeply integrated into the world economy, Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the better China develops, the more benefits all parties will gain.

Ding said that the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has outlined the blueprint for China's development over the next five years.

Ding vowed efforts to steadfastly promote high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, and continuously optimize the business environment.

China welcomes enterprises from all countries, including Disney, to continue investing in China and deepening their presence, participate in Chinese modernization in a positive manner, and share China's opportunities to achieve greater development, Ding said.

Iger said Disney is confident in China's development, and will continue to expand its investment in China and better promote exchanges and cooperation between the United States and China.

Chinese vice premier meets Disney CEO