New york: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday welcomed efforts spearheaded by US President Donald Trump to achieve a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. "The Secretary-General very much welcomes the recent diplomatic engagements spearheaded by the US and President Trump, focusing on achieving a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, and obviously yesterday's discussions in Washington were the center of that effort," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a news conference.

According to Anadolu Agency, Dujarric emphasized the importance of maintaining active engagement in the dialogue process. "For him, it's very important that all involved continue to stay actively engaged in what we want to see as an inclusive dialogue to sustain the important momentum that was created to bring an immediate ceasefire and sustainable peace in Ukraine," he added.

Dujarric also highlighted the ongoing discussions regarding potential dialogue formats and locations. He stressed the necessity for all parties to engage directly with one another, stating that the UN stands ready to support and participate in any role that might be assigned to it.

The peace efforts have made significant progress following recent meetings. Last week's meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and a subsequent meeting on Monday in Washington with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, have been pivotal in advancing the negotiations.

Key issues in the discussions include potential land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine, which remain as major points of contention.