Personnel decisions and peace talks: what Zelensky said at a press conference
8 December 2025 22:06
he President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has for the first time outlined the list of candidates he is considering for the post of head of the Presidential Office. During a conversation with journalists, he named several high-ranking officials, while admitting that temporary decision-making without the head of the OP is also possible if the process is delayed, Ukrinform writes , "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Who is on the list of possible heads of the OP
The candidates include Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, Head of the Defence Intelligence Service Kyrylo Budanov, First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia, and Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the main problem is not only in choosing a new person, but also in who will be able to replace the candidates in their current positions.
“If the decision is delayed, I will be able to work alone,” the president said.
Peace talks: what is known about the American plan
The President explained in detail the current stage of work on the updated US “peace plan.”
- The plan has been reduced from 28 to 20 points, and the points that Ukraine calls “frankly unacceptable” have disappeared.
- The issues of territories, security mechanisms, and financing for reconstruction remain unresolved.
- According to Zelenskyy, the document is being finalized and should be submitted to the American side in the near future.
- The President asked Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to take on the economic block of the plan.
At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasized: Ukraine has no right to cede territories, “neither under the Constitution, nor under international law, nor under moral law.”
According to him, Washington is looking for a compromise between Ukraine’s position and Russia’s demands.
On Trump and US support
Zelenskyy confirmed that Donald Trump “wants to end the war” but has his own vision, which differs from Ukraine’s. Kyiv insists that the end of the war should be without the risk of a new invasion.
As for US military aid, the president said that supplies under the PURL program will continue:
- Ukraine needs about $15 billion a year for purchases, mostly air defense.
- This year’s shortfall was reduced to $800 million, from $1.5 billion, after an additional $700 million from the Netherlands.
Frozen assets and a loan
Commenting on a possible loan secured by frozen Russian assets, Zelenskyy said he expects a tranche, but the format – “a reparations loan or another model” – is still unknown.
Relations with Poland
The president said he was ready to meet with Polish leader Karol Navrotsky “with pleasure.” He confirmed that he had invited him to Ukraine by phone and was waiting for Warsaw to offer a date. He also noted that the Polish Foreign Ministry participated in today’s meeting in London via video link.
China’s role in the war
Zelenskyy expressed doubt that Beijing would benefit from an end to the war, in part because of its competition with the United States and its unwillingness to see a weakened Russia. According to intelligence reports, China is supplying machine tools and other technological goods to Russia, but the president has no evidence of arms supplies.
