Peace Plans Set to be Delivered to Russia Within Days, Says Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a peace deal negotiated with American diplomats are poised to be completed in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives will present the terms to the Kremlin.
Negotiations in Berlin Produce Significant Progress, But Key Hurdles Remain
After two days of discussions in Berlin, American negotiators indicated on Monday that around “90%” of the contentious issues between Russia and Ukraine had been resolved. Although the outlook appears positive, the path to ending the conflict remains uncertain, particularly because Russia's lack of participation from the ongoing discussions.
Early Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian president noted that the American legislature was anticipated to vote on security guarantees and that a complete package of documents could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” He added that, the United States would hold consultations with Russian representatives, leading to summit-level talks as soon as this coming weekend.
Defense Assurances and Allied Backing
“We are counting on five documents. Several concern security guarantees: formally ratified, that is, voted on and approved by the United States Congress,” the president remarked to journalists. He stated that these assurances would “mirror article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
On Monday, US officials did not provide precise information regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or what would happen if Moscow attempted to seize more land after a peace deal. Officials did confirm that the United States has no plans to deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine.
Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and several additional European nations issued a joint statement that troops from a “coalition of the willing” could “assist in the regeneration of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting maritime security, including through operating inside its territory.”
However, they did not suggesting these actions would serve as assurances matching NATO's Article 5. Furthermore, there is scant indication that Russia is near agreeing to the kind of arrangement being negotiated between Washington and Kyiv.
Moscow's Stance and Territorial Dispute
On Tuesday, the Russian government stated it had not seen the specifics of the proposals on security assurances. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergei Ryabkov, asserted that Russia would not agree to troops from Nato countries operating in Ukraine “no matter what.”
The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian negotiators and US negotiators remains the territorial question. A key demand centers on Ukraine ceding the parts of the Donbas it still holds, while Ukraine wants to maintain the current front lines. “We are discussing the territorial issue. As is known, it is one of the key issues. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” Zelenskyy said following the Berlin discussions.
American mediators, headed by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has proposed a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russia would not advance, with the resulting zone becoming “an open economic area.” Russia has suggested it could use police and national guard formations rather than the army in such an area, suggesting it would still expect to maintain authority there.
“Let me reiterate: a ‘free economic zone’ is not controlled by Moscow. Not legally or in practice do we accept the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as Russian. Absolutely,” stated President Zelenskyy.
Path Forward and Potential Outcomes
The way ahead is uncertain how the two sides will proceed on the territorial issue. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution such as a special economic area might be theoretically possible if the citizens of Ukraine approved it in a referendum. The critical stumbling block is expected to arise when the proposals are put to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has given no sign he is willing to compromise on his military objectives.
“If Putin rejects everything, we will end up with precisely the situation we are experiencing on our plane right now – turbulence,” commented Zelenskyy, making the statement as his aircraft took off from Berlin.
“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply additional armaments if he rejects everything. In my view, that would be a fair request from Ukraine to the United States,” he added.
