🔗 Share this article

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that a framework for a peace deal negotiated with US officials are poised to be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, American envoys will present the documentation to the Russian leadership.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Major Headway, But Key Hurdles Persist

Following extensive talks in Berlin, American negotiators indicated 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 conflict remains uncertain, particularly because Russia's lack of participation from the current dialogue.

Early Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian president noted that the American legislature is expected to vote on defense assurances and that a finalised set of agreements could be prepared “imminently.” Subsequently, the U.S. would engage in discussions with Moscow, potentially followed by high-level meetings as soon as this weekend.

Defense Assurances and International Support

“We are counting on five key agreements. Several pertain to binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, approved and endorsed by the United States Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to the press. He stated that these guarantees would “mirror the collective defense clause” of the Nato alliance.

Earlier, US officials did not provide specific details regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or the consequences if Moscow attempted to seize more land after a peace deal. They did, however, confirm that the U.S. has no plans to deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Heads of state from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European countries issued a joint statement that forces belonging to a “allied coalition” could “assist in the rebuilding of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukrainian airspace, and in supporting maritime security, potentially by conducting operations within its territory.”

They stopped short, however, of suggesting these measures would serve as assurances matching NATO's Article 5. In any case, there is little sign that Moscow is anywhere close to agreeing to the kind of arrangement being negotiated between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Kremlin Response and Land Issue

On Tuesday, the Russian government said it had not seen the specifics of the plans for security assurances. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergey Ryabkov, asserted that Russia would never accept troops from NATO member states operating in Ukraine “under any circumstances.”

The main sticking point between the Ukrainian negotiators and US negotiators remains the territorial question. A key demand involves Kyiv ceding the areas of the Donbas region it currently controls, while Ukraine wants to freeze the lines. “We are discussing the territorial issue. You know, it is one of the key issues. At this point, there is no agreement on it yet,” Zelenskyy said after the Berlin talks.

American mediators, headed by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has suggested a middle-ground proposal. This framework would see Ukrainian forces pull back, but Russia would not move forward, with the resulting zone established as “a free economic zone.” Russia has suggested it could use internal security units rather than the military in such an area, implying it would still expect to maintain authority there.

“Let me reiterate: a ‘free economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as Russian. Categorically,” said Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Potential Outcomes

The way ahead is uncertain how Moscow and Kyiv will proceed on the land question. The Ukrainian leader has previously suggested that a negotiated arrangement like a free economic zone might be conceivable if the citizens of Ukraine voted for it in a referendum. The major impediment is expected to arise when the plans are presented to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has shown no indication he is willing to compromise on his military objectives.

“If Putin rejects everything, we will face exactly what we are experiencing on our plane right now – turbulence,” commented Zelenskyy, recording the comments after his plane took off from Berlin.

“I believe the United States will apply sanctions pressure and provide us with additional armaments if he rejects everything. In my view, that would be a fair request from us to the Americans,” he added.