Joanna Kakissis

Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

and Kyiv.

Zelensky wrote on social media that, quote, a lot can be decided before the new year.

Territorial issues remain the most sensitive.

Earlier this week, Zelensky said he was open to withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the eastern region of Donbass, as long as Russia also pulled back its troops.

Ukraine controls about a quarter of this region.

The Trump administration is proposing turning this portion into a free economic zone.

Volodymyr Polovyi, a soldier whose unit is stationed in Donbass,

says Russia has been trying to occupy the region for more than a decade.

And during that time, he says, Russia signed peace and ceasefire agreements and did not respect them.

Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kiev.

Zelensky wrote on social media that, quote, a lot can be decided before the new year.

Territorial issues remain the most sensitive.

Earlier this week, Zelensky said he was open to withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the eastern region of Donbass, as long as Russia also pulled back its troops.

Ukraine controls about a quarter of this region.

The Trump administration is proposing turning this portion into a free economic zone.

Volodymyr Polovyi, a soldier whose unit is stationed in Donbass,

says Russia has been trying to occupy the region for more than a decade.

And during that time, he says, Russia signed peace and ceasefire agreements and did not respect them.

Public opinion polls show that Ukrainians strongly oppose giving up territory to Russia.