Diplomatic Proposals Ready for Presented to Moscow In the Coming Days, States Ukraine's President
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a framework for a peace deal negotiated with US officials are poised to be completed in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives will submit the documentation to the Kremlin.
Negotiations in Berlin Produce Major Headway, But Key Hurdles Remain
After two days of discussions in Berlin, American negotiators reported on Monday that approximately “90%” of the disputed points between Moscow and Kyiv had been settled. Despite this optimistic assessment, the path to ending the war remains uncertain, especially given the Russian lack of participation from the current dialogue.
Early Tuesday morning, Zelenskyy noted that the US Congress was anticipated to vote on security guarantees and that a complete package of agreements could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” He added that, the U.S. would engage in discussions with Moscow, leading to high-level meetings as soon as this weekend.
Security Guarantees and International Support
“The plan involves five documents. Some of them concern security guarantees: formally ratified, that is, voted on and approved by the US Congress,” the president remarked to journalists. He stated that these assurances would “reflect the collective defense clause” of the Nato alliance.
On Monday, American representatives declined to give specific details regarding the likely contents of the defense package or the consequences if Russia attempted to seize more land following an agreement. Officials did confirm that the United States has no plans to deploy troops on the ground in the country.
Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European countries issued a joint statement that troops from a “coalition of the willing” could “help with the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukrainian airspace, and in ensuring maritime security, potentially by operating inside Ukraine.”
They stopped short, however, of proposing these measures would serve as assurances equivalent to Nato’s article 5. In any case, there is little sign that Moscow is anywhere close to accepting the type of package under discussion between the U.S. and Ukraine.
Kremlin Response and Land Issue
On Tuesday, the Kremlin stated it had not received the details of the proposals on security guarantees. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergey Ryabkov, asserted that Russia would never accept troops from NATO member states operating in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”
The main sticking point between the Ukrainian negotiators and their American counterparts remains the issue of land. A key demand centers on Kyiv ceding the areas of the Donbas region it currently controls, while the Ukrainian side prefers to freeze the lines. “Talks continue on the territorial issue. As is known, it is a central problem. Currently, there is no consensus on it yet,” the president said following the Berlin discussions.
American mediators, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has suggested a middle-ground proposal. Under this plan would see Ukraine pull back, but Russia would not advance, with the resulting zone established as “an open economic area.” Moscow has suggested it could use police and national guard formations rather than the army in such an area, suggesting it would still seek to control the territory.
“Let me reiterate: a ‘special economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Russia. Not legally or in practice will we recognise the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as Russian. Absolutely,” said Zelenskyy.
Next Steps and Possible Scenarios
It is not clear how the two sides will resolve the territorial issue. The Ukrainian leader has previously suggested that a negotiated arrangement such as a free economic zone could be conceivable if the citizens of Ukraine approved it in a referendum. The major impediment is likely to be when the proposals are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has given no sign he is willing to compromise on his military objectives.
“Should Russia refuse all proposals, we will face exactly what we are experiencing on our flight right now – instability,” said Zelenskyy, recording the comments after his plane departed from Berlin.
“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and provide us with more weapons if he rejects everything. In my view, that would be a fair request from us to the Americans,” he concluded.