Peace Plans Set to be Delivered to Moscow Within Days, Says Ukraine's President
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a framework for a peace deal developed with US officials could be completed in a matter of days. Following this, American envoys will present the terms to the Russian leadership.
Berlin Talks Yield Significant Progress, With Critical Obstacles Persist
Following extensive talks in Berlin, US officials reported on Monday that approximately “90%” of the disputed points between Moscow and Kyiv had been settled. Although the outlook appears positive, the path to ending the conflict is not guaranteed, especially given Russia's absence from the current dialogue.
Early Tuesday morning, Zelenskyy noted that the American legislature is expected to vote on security guarantees and that a finalised set of agreements could be prepared “imminently.” Subsequently, the U.S. would engage in discussions with Moscow, potentially followed by summit-level talks as soon as this weekend.
Security Guarantees and International Support
“We are counting on five documents. Some of them concern security guarantees: formally ratified, that is, voted on and approved by the US Congress,” Zelenskyy remarked to the press. He stated that these assurances would “reflect article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
On Monday, American representatives did not provide specific details regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or what would happen if Moscow sought to capture more land following an agreement. Officials did confirm that the U.S. has no plans to place boots on the ground in Ukraine.
Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European nations said in a unified declaration that troops from a “allied coalition” could “assist in the rebuilding of Ukraine’s forces, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting maritime security, potentially by conducting operations within Ukraine.”
They stopped short, however, of proposing these measures would constitute guarantees equivalent to NATO's Article 5. Furthermore, there is little sign that Moscow is anywhere close to accepting the type of package being negotiated between the U.S. and Ukraine.
Moscow's Stance and Territorial Dispute
The following day, the Kremlin stated it had not seen the specifics of the proposals on security assurances. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, asserted that the country would never accept troops from Nato countries operating in Ukraine “under any circumstances.”
The main sticking point between the Ukrainian negotiators and their American counterparts continues to be the territorial question. One proposal centers on Ukraine ceding the areas of the Donbas region it currently controls, while the Ukrainian side prefers to freeze the lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. You know, it is one of the key issues. At this point, there is no agreement on it yet,” Zelenskyy remarked after the Berlin talks.
The US negotiation team, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has proposed a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russia would not move forward, with the demilitarised area becoming “a free economic zone.” Russia has indicated it could use police and national guard formations rather than the military in such an area, implying it would still seek to control the territory.
“Let me reiterate: a ‘free economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Moscow. Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as belonging to Russia. Absolutely,” said Zelenskyy.
Path Forward and Potential Outcomes
It is not clear how Moscow and Kyiv will proceed on the land question. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a negotiated arrangement such as a special economic area might be conceivable if the Ukrainian people approved it in a national vote. The major impediment is likely to be when the proposals are put to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has shown no indication he is prepared to concede on his war aims.
“If Putin rejects everything, we will end up with exactly what we are encountering on our plane right now – instability,” commented the president, making the statement after his plane departed from Berlin.
“I believe the United States will increase sanction pressure and supply additional armaments if they reject the deal. In my view, that would be a fair request from us to the United States,” he concluded.