Peace Proposals Set to be Presented to Russia In the Coming Days, Says Ukraine's President
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that proposals for a peace deal developed with US officials are poised to be finalised in a matter of days. Following this, American envoys are expected to present the documentation to the Kremlin.
Berlin Talks Yield Significant Progress, But Key Hurdles Persist
Following extensive talks in Berlin, American negotiators reported on Monday that approximately “90%” of the contentious issues between Moscow and Kyiv had been resolved. Although the outlook appears positive, an actual conclusion to the war is not guaranteed, particularly because the Russian absence from the current dialogue.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Zelenskyy noted that the American legislature is expected to consider security guarantees and that a finalised set of documents could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” He added that, the U.S. would engage in discussions with Russian representatives, leading to summit-level talks as soon as this weekend.
Security Guarantees and International Support
“The plan involves five documents. Several pertain to binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, approved and approved by the US Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to journalists. He clarified that these assurances would “mirror article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
On Monday, US officials declined to give precise information regarding the likely contents of the security package or the consequences if Russia sought to capture more land after a peace deal. They did, however, confirm that the U.S. has no plans to place boots on the ground in Ukraine.
Heads of state from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European nations said in a unified declaration that troops from a “coalition of the willing” could “assist in the regeneration of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukrainian airspace, and in supporting maritime security, including through conducting operations within Ukraine.”
They stopped short, however, of suggesting these actions would serve as guarantees matching NATO's Article 5. In any case, there is little sign that Moscow is near agreeing to the kind of arrangement under discussion between Washington and Kyiv.
Kremlin Response and Territorial Dispute
On Tuesday, the Russian government said it had not seen the specifics of the proposals on security guarantees. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, declared that Russia would never accept forces of NATO member states being stationed in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”
The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian team and their American counterparts continues to be the territorial question. One proposal centers on Kyiv relinquishing the areas of the Donbas region it currently controls, while the Ukrainian side wants to maintain the current front lines. “We are discussing the land dispute. You know, it is one of the key issues. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” the president said following the Berlin discussions.
The US negotiation team, headed by two senior advisors, has suggested a compromise solution. Under this plan would see Ukrainian forces pull back, but Russia would not advance, with the resulting zone established as “a free economic zone.” Russia has indicated it could use police and national guard formations rather than the army in such an area, implying it would still expect to control the territory.
“Let me reiterate: a ‘free economic zone’ is not under the control of Moscow. Neither de jure nor de facto do we accept Donbas – its currently occupied areas – as belonging to Russia. Absolutely,” said Zelenskyy.
Next Steps and Possible Scenarios
It is not clear how Moscow and Kyiv will resolve the territorial issue. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution like a special economic area could be theoretically possible if the Ukrainian people voted for it in a referendum. The critical stumbling block is likely to be when the plans are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has shown no indication he is prepared to concede on his military objectives.
“Should Russia refuse all proposals, we will face precisely the situation we are encountering on our plane right now – turbulence,” said the president, making the statement after his plane departed from Berlin.
“I am confident the United States will increase sanction pressure and provide us with additional armaments if he rejects everything. I think, that would be a reasonable expectation from us to the Americans,” he concluded.
