Zelenskyy’s Two-Track Plan: Direct Talks on Territory, Allied Talks on Security

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pursuing a clear two-track plan to secure Ukraine’s future: direct talks with Russia on territory and parallel talks with allies on security. This strategy was highlighted as the U.S. announced its efforts to broker a summit with Vladimir Putin.
Track one is the presidential-level negotiation. Zelenskyy has stated that the “question of territory” is a matter to be settled “between me and Putin.” This approach aims to tackle the most difficult issue head-on, in a focused, bilateral format.
Track two involves multilateral cooperation. Zelenskyy confirmed that “security guarantees will probably be negotiated with our partners.” This process is already underway, with European and NATO military leaders actively discussing the framework for Ukraine’s long-term defense.
The United States is facilitating both tracks. It is working to arrange the Putin-Zelenskyy meeting while also participating in the security discussions, where it has proposed the possibility of contributing air support. This dual role makes Washington central to the success of Zelenskyy’s entire strategy.