Peace Plans Set to be Delivered to Russia Within Days, Says Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that a framework for a peace deal negotiated with US officials could be finalised in a matter of days. Following this, American envoys are expected to submit the documentation to the Kremlin.
Negotiations in Berlin Produce Major Headway, With Critical Obstacles Persist
Following extensive talks in Berlin, US officials reported on Monday that around “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 Russia's lack of participation from the current dialogue.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the Ukrainian president noted that the American legislature was anticipated to vote on defense assurances and that a complete package of documents could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” Subsequently, the U.S. would hold consultations with Russian representatives, potentially followed by high-level meetings possibly this weekend.
Defense Assurances and International Support
“We are counting on five documents. Some of them pertain to binding security pledges: formally ratified, that is, approved and approved by the US Congress,” the president commented to the press. He clarified that these guarantees would “mirror article 5” of the Nato alliance.
On Monday, American representatives did not provide specific details regarding the probable makeup of the security package or the consequences if Russia sought to capture additional territory after a peace deal. Officials did confirm that the U.S. does not intend to place boots on the ground in Ukraine.
Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and several additional European countries issued a joint statement that forces belonging to a “coalition of the willing” could “assist in the rebuilding of Ukraine’s forces, in protecting Ukrainian airspace, and in ensuring safer seas, including through operating inside its territory.”
However, they did not proposing these measures would serve as assurances matching NATO's Article 5. In any case, there is scant indication that Moscow is near agreeing to the kind of arrangement under discussion between the U.S. and Ukraine.
Moscow's Stance and Land Issue
On Tuesday, the Russian government stated it had not seen the specifics of the plans for security assurances. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergei Ryabkov, asserted that the country would never accept troops from NATO member states operating in Ukraine “no matter what.”
The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and US negotiators remains the issue of land. One proposal centers on Ukraine ceding the parts of the Donbas region it still holds, while the Ukrainian side wants to maintain the current front lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. As is known, it is one of the key issues. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” the president remarked after the Berlin talks.
American mediators, led by two senior advisors, has proposed a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukrainian forces withdraw, but Russia would not move forward, with the demilitarised area becoming “an open economic area.” Moscow has suggested it could use police and national guard formations rather than the military in such an area, suggesting it would still expect to control the territory.
“I want to stress once again: a ‘special economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto do we accept Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as belonging to Russia. Categorically,” said Zelenskyy.
Path Forward and Potential Outcomes
The way ahead is uncertain how the two sides will proceed on the territorial issue. The Ukrainian leader has previously suggested that a negotiated arrangement like a free economic zone could be theoretically possible if the citizens of Ukraine approved it in a referendum. The critical stumbling block is likely to be when the proposals are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has shown no indication he is prepared to concede on his war aims.
“If Putin rejects everything, we will face exactly what we are experiencing on our plane right now – instability,” said Zelenskyy, making the statement after his plane departed from Berlin.
“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply more weapons if they reject the deal. In my view, that would be a fair request from Ukraine to the Americans,” he added.
