Ukraine is set for more talks with its coalition partners

Leaders of about 30 countries that support Kyiv will convene via video Thursday.

- BY ILLIA NOVIKOV AND DEREK GATOPOULOS

Ukraine was expected to give its latest peace proposals to U.S. negotiators Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, a day ahead of his urgent talks with leaders and officials from about 30 other countries supporting Kyiv's effort to end the war with Russia on acceptable terms.

As tension builds around a U.S. push for a settlement, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to President Trump by phone Wednesday, according to officials.

Negotiations are at "a critical moment," the European leaders said in official statements.

Washington's goal of a swift compromise to stop the fighting that followed Russia's invasion in 2022 is reducing Kyiv's room for maneuvering. Zelensky is walking a tightrope between defending Ukrainian interests and showing Trump he is willing to compromise, even as Moscow shows no public sign of budging.

Ukraine's European allies are backing Zelensky's effort to ensure that any settlement is fair and deters future Russian attacks, as well as accommodating Europe's defense interests.

The French government said Ukraine's allies dubbed the Coalition of the Willing-will discuss the negotiations Thursday by video. Zelensky said the meeting would include those countries' leaders.

"We need to bring together 30 colleagues very quickly. And it's not easy, but nevertheless we will do it," he said late Tuesday.

Zelensky said discussions with the U.S. were scheduled Wednesday to focus on a document detailing plans for Ukraine's postwar reconstruction and economic development. Also, Ukraine is finalizing work on a separate, 20-point framework for ending the war.