Diplomatic Plans Ready for Presented to Moscow In the Coming Days, Says Ukraine's President

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a framework for a ceasefire agreement negotiated with US officials could be completed in a matter of days. Following this, U.S. representatives will submit the terms 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 Russia and Ukraine had been resolved. Although the outlook appears positive, an actual conclusion to the war is not guaranteed, especially given the Russian lack of participation from the current dialogue.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Ukrainian president noted that the US Congress is expected to consider defense assurances and that a finalised set of agreements might be ready “imminently.” He added that, the U.S. would hold consultations with Russian representatives, potentially followed by summit-level talks as soon as this coming weekend.

Defense Assurances and International Support

“The plan involves five key agreements. Several pertain to security guarantees: formally ratified, that is, voted on and endorsed by the United States Congress,” the president remarked to journalists. He clarified that these guarantees would “reflect article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Earlier, American representatives declined to give specific details regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or what would happen if Russia sought to capture additional territory following an agreement. They did, however, confirm that the United States does not intend to deploy troops on the ground in the country.

Heads of state from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany and several additional European nations said in a unified declaration that forces belonging to a “allied coalition” could “help with the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting maritime security, potentially by operating inside its territory.”

However, they did not suggesting these actions would constitute guarantees matching Nato’s article 5. Furthermore, there is little sign that Moscow is anywhere close to accepting the kind of arrangement being negotiated between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Kremlin Response and Territorial Dispute

On Tuesday, the Russian government said it had not seen the details of the proposals on security assurances. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergei Ryabkov, asserted that Russia would never accept forces of Nato countries being stationed in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”

The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian team and their American counterparts continues to be the territorial question. A key demand involves Kyiv relinquishing the parts of the Donbas region it still holds, while Ukraine prefers to maintain the current front lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. You know, 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 middle-ground proposal. This framework would see Ukrainian forces pull back, but Russia would not move forward, with the demilitarised area established as “a free economic zone.” Russia has indicated it could use police and national guard formations instead of the army in such an area, suggesting it would still expect to control the territory.

“I want to stress once again: a ‘special economic zone’ is not controlled by Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as belonging to Russia. Absolutely,” stated President Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Potential Outcomes

It is not clear how the two sides will resolve the territorial issue. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a negotiated arrangement like a free economic zone might be theoretically possible if the citizens of Ukraine voted for it in a national vote. The major impediment is expected to arise when the proposals are put to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has shown no indication he is willing to compromise on his military objectives.

“Should Russia refuse all proposals, we will end up with exactly what we are encountering on our flight right now – turbulence,” commented the president, recording the comments after his plane departed from Berlin.

“I believe the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply more weapons if they reject the deal. In my view, that would be a reasonable expectation from us to the United States,” he concluded.