Diplomatic Proposals 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 American diplomats could be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives will submit the documentation to the Kremlin.
Berlin Talks Yield Major Headway, But Key Hurdles Remain
Following extensive talks in Berlin, US officials reported on Monday that approximately “90%” of the contentious issues between Moscow and Kyiv had been resolved. Although the outlook appears positive, the path to ending the war is not guaranteed, particularly because the Russian lack of participation from the ongoing discussions.
Early Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian president noted that the US Congress is expected to consider defense assurances and that a complete package of agreements could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” Subsequently, the United States would engage in discussions with Moscow, potentially followed by high-level meetings possibly this weekend.
Defense Assurances and International Support
“We are counting on five documents. Several concern binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, voted on and approved by the United States Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to the press. He clarified that these assurances would “mirror 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 what would happen if Moscow sought to capture additional territory after a peace deal. Officials did confirm that the U.S. has no plans to deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine.
Heads of state from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany and several additional European countries said in a unified declaration that forces belonging to a “allied coalition” could “help with the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in protecting Ukrainian airspace, and in supporting maritime security, including through operating inside its territory.”
However, they did not proposing these measures would constitute guarantees matching NATO's Article 5. Furthermore, there is little sign that Russia is near accepting the type of package being negotiated between Washington and Kyiv.
Kremlin Response and Land Issue
The following day, the Russian government said it had not received the details of the plans for security assurances. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, declared that the country would not agree to forces of Nato countries being stationed in Ukraine “under any circumstances.”
The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and US negotiators remains the issue of land. A key demand centers on Ukraine relinquishing the parts of the Donbas region it still holds, while Ukraine prefers to freeze the lines. “We are discussing the land dispute. You know, it is a central problem. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” the president remarked following the Berlin discussions.
American mediators, headed by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has suggested a middle-ground proposal. This framework 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 units instead of the army in such an area, implying it would still seek to maintain authority there.
“Let me reiterate: a ‘free economic zone’ does not mean controlled by Moscow. Not legally or in practice do we accept Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as Russian. Categorically,” stated Zelenskyy.
Path Forward and Potential Outcomes
It is not clear how Moscow and Kyiv will resolve the land question. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a negotiated arrangement like a special economic area 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 President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has shown no indication he is prepared to concede on his military objectives.
“If Putin rejects everything, we will face exactly what we are experiencing on our flight right now – turbulence,” commented Zelenskyy, making the statement as his aircraft departed from Berlin.
“I believe the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply additional armaments if he rejects everything. I think, that would be a fair request from Ukraine to the United States,” he added.
