🔗 Share this article

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a peace deal developed with American diplomats are poised to be completed in a matter of days. Following this, U.S. representatives will submit the terms to the Russian leadership.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Major Headway, But Key Hurdles Remain

Following extensive talks in Berlin, US officials indicated on Monday that approximately “90%” of the disputed points between Russia and Ukraine had been settled. Despite this optimistic assessment, an actual conclusion to the conflict is not guaranteed, especially given the Russian lack of participation from the ongoing discussions.

Early Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian president noted that the US Congress is expected to consider security guarantees and that a complete package of agreements could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” Subsequently, the United States would hold consultations with Moscow, leading to summit-level talks possibly this weekend.

Defense Assurances and International Support

“The plan involves five key agreements. Several pertain to binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, approved and approved by the US Congress,” the president commented to the press. He clarified that these assurances would “mirror the collective defense clause” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

On Monday, American representatives declined to give specific details regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or what would happen if Russia attempted to seize more land after a peace deal. Officials did confirm that the United States does not intend to place boots on the ground in Ukraine.

Heads of state 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 rebuilding of Ukrainian military capabilities, in securing Ukrainian airspace, and in ensuring maritime security, including through operating inside its territory.”

They stopped short, however, of proposing these measures would serve as assurances matching NATO's Article 5. Furthermore, there is little sign that Moscow is near agreeing to the type of package under discussion between Washington and Kyiv.

Kremlin Response and Territorial Dispute

On Tuesday, the Russian government said it had not received the details of the plans for security guarantees. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergei Ryabkov, asserted that Russia would not agree to forces of NATO member states being stationed in Ukraine “no matter what.”

The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian negotiators and US negotiators remains the territorial question. One proposal involves Ukraine relinquishing the parts of the Donbas region it still holds, while the Ukrainian side wants to freeze the lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. As is known, it is one of the key issues. Currently, there is no consensus on it yet,” the president said following the Berlin discussions.

American mediators, headed by two senior advisors, has proposed a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russia would not move forward, with the resulting zone established as “a free economic zone.” Russia has suggested it could use police and national guard formations rather than the army in such an area, implying it would still seek to maintain authority there.

“I want to stress once again: a ‘free economic zone’ is not controlled by Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto do we accept the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as belonging to Russia. Categorically,” said President Zelenskyy.

Path Forward and Possible Scenarios

It is not clear how the two sides will resolve the territorial issue. The Ukrainian leader has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution like a free economic zone might be theoretically possible if the Ukrainian people approved it in a referendum. The major impediment is expected to arise when the proposals are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has given no sign he is prepared to concede on his war aims.

“If Putin rejects everything, we will end up with precisely the situation we are encountering on our plane right now – instability,” said the president, recording the comments as his aircraft took off from Berlin.

“I am confident the United States will increase sanction pressure and provide us with more weapons if they reject the deal. In my view, that would be a fair request from us to the Americans,” he concluded.