Diplomatic Plans Set to be Delivered to Moscow Within Days, States Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a ceasefire agreement negotiated with US officials could be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, American envoys will present the documentation to the Russian leadership.
Berlin Talks Yield Significant Progress, But Key Hurdles Remain
Following extensive talks in Berlin, US officials indicated on Monday that around “90%” of the contentious issues between Moscow and Kyiv had been settled. Despite this optimistic assessment, the path to ending the war is not guaranteed, particularly because Russia's absence from the ongoing discussions.
Early Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian president said that the American legislature is expected to consider defense assurances and that a finalised set of documents might be ready “imminently.” He added that, the U.S. would hold consultations with Russian representatives, potentially followed by summit-level talks possibly this coming weekend.
Security Guarantees and Allied Backing
“The plan involves five documents. Some of them concern binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, approved and approved by the US Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to the press. He stated that these assurances would “reflect article 5” of the Nato alliance.
On Monday, US officials did not provide specific details regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or what would happen if Russia sought to capture more land following an agreement. They did, however, confirm that the United States 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 nations issued a joint statement that troops from a “allied coalition” could “help with the rebuilding of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside its territory.”
They stopped short, however, of proposing these actions would serve as assurances matching Nato’s article 5. Furthermore, there is little sign that Moscow is anywhere close to agreeing to the type of package being negotiated between Washington and Kyiv.
Moscow's Stance and Territorial Dispute
The following day, the Kremlin stated it had not received the details of the proposals on security assurances. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, asserted that the country would not agree to forces of NATO member states operating in Ukraine “under any circumstances.”
The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and their American counterparts remains the issue of land. A key demand involves Ukraine ceding the areas of the Donbas it currently controls, while the Ukrainian side prefers to freeze the lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. As is known, it is a central problem. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” the president said after the Berlin talks.
American mediators, headed by two senior advisors, has suggested a compromise solution. Under this plan would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russia would not move forward, with the resulting zone established as “an open economic area.” Moscow has suggested it could use internal security units instead of the military in such an area, implying it would still expect to maintain authority there.
“Let me reiterate: a ‘free economic zone’ is not under the control of Russia. Not legally or in practice do we accept Donbas – its currently occupied areas – as Russian. Categorically,” stated President Zelenskyy.
Next Steps and Possible Scenarios
It is not clear how Moscow and Kyiv will proceed on the territorial issue. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution like a special economic area could be conceivable if the Ukrainian people approved it in a national vote. The critical stumbling block is likely to be when the plans are put to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has given no sign he is prepared to concede on his military objectives.
“Should Russia refuse all proposals, we will face exactly what we are encountering on our plane right now – instability,” said the president, making the statement after his plane departed from Berlin.
“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply additional armaments if he rejects everything. I think, that would be a reasonable expectation from us to the United States,” he concluded.
