Peace Plans Set to be Presented to Moscow In the Coming Days, States Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a peace deal negotiated with American diplomats are poised to be finalised in a matter of days. Following this, American envoys are expected to submit the documentation to the Russian leadership.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Major Headway, With Critical Obstacles Persist

Following extensive talks in Berlin, US officials indicated on Monday that approximately “90%” of the disputed points between Russia and Ukraine had been settled. Although the outlook appears positive, the path to ending the conflict is not guaranteed, especially given the Russian lack of participation from the ongoing discussions.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Zelenskyy said that the American legislature is expected to vote on security guarantees and that a complete package of agreements might be ready “imminently.” He added that, the U.S. would engage in discussions with Russian representatives, potentially followed by high-level meetings as soon as this weekend.

Security Guarantees and Allied Backing

“The plan involves five documents. Some of them pertain to binding security pledges: formally ratified, that is, voted on and approved by the US Congress,” the president remarked to journalists. He clarified that these guarantees would “mirror article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

On Monday, US officials declined to give precise information regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or what would happen if Moscow attempted to seize additional territory after a peace deal. They did, however, confirm that the United States has no plans to deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and several additional European countries issued a joint statement that forces belonging to a “coalition of the willing” could “help with the regeneration of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukrainian airspace, and in supporting safer seas, potentially by operating inside Ukraine.”

However, they did not proposing these measures would constitute 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 under discussion between Washington and Kyiv.

Moscow's Stance and Territorial Dispute

The following day, the Kremlin stated it had not seen the specifics of the plans for security assurances. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergei Ryabkov, asserted that the country would not agree to forces of NATO member states operating in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”

The main sticking point between the Ukrainian negotiators and US negotiators continues to be the issue of land. One proposal centers on Kyiv ceding the areas of the Donbas region it still holds, while Ukraine prefers to freeze the lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. You know, it is a central problem. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” Zelenskyy remarked following the Berlin discussions.

The US negotiation team, led by two senior advisors, has proposed a middle-ground proposal. This framework would see Ukraine pull back, but Russian troops would not move forward, with the resulting zone becoming “an open economic area.” Moscow has suggested it could use police and national guard units rather than the military in such an area, suggesting it would still seek to maintain authority there.

“Let me reiterate: a ‘special economic zone’ is not under the control of Moscow. Neither de jure nor de facto do we accept Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as Russian. Categorically,” stated Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Potential Outcomes

The way ahead is uncertain how the two sides will resolve the land question. The Ukrainian leader has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution such as a special economic area might be conceivable if the citizens of Ukraine voted for it in a referendum. The critical stumbling block is likely to be when the plans are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has shown no indication he is willing to compromise on his military objectives.

“Should Russia refuse all proposals, we will end up with precisely the situation we are encountering on our plane right now – turbulence,” said Zelenskyy, recording the comments as his aircraft departed from Berlin.

“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and provide us with additional armaments if they reject the deal. In my view, that would be a fair request from Ukraine to the United States,” he concluded.