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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that proposals for a peace deal developed with American diplomats are poised to be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, American envoys will present the documentation to the Kremlin.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Major Headway, With Critical Obstacles Remain

After two days of discussions in Berlin, US officials indicated on Monday that around “90%” of the contentious issues between Russia and Ukraine had been settled. Although the outlook appears positive, the path to ending the conflict remains uncertain, particularly because Russia's absence from the current dialogue.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Ukrainian president said that the American legislature is expected to vote on defense assurances and that a finalised set of documents might be ready “imminently.” Subsequently, the United States would engage in discussions with Moscow, potentially followed by high-level meetings possibly this coming weekend.

Defense Assurances and Allied Backing

“The plan involves five documents. Some of them pertain to binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, approved and approved by the United States Congress,” the president commented to the press. He stated that these guarantees would “mirror article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Earlier, American representatives did not provide precise information 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 place boots 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 forces belonging to a “allied coalition” could “help with the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in ensuring maritime security, potentially by conducting operations within its territory.”

However, they did not proposing these measures would constitute guarantees matching Nato’s article 5. Furthermore, there is scant indication that Moscow is anywhere close to agreeing to the kind of arrangement under discussion between Washington and Kyiv.

Moscow's Stance and Land Issue

On Tuesday, the Russian government stated it had not received the details of the proposals on security guarantees. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergey Ryabkov, declared that Russia would not agree to troops from NATO member states operating in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”

The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian team and US negotiators remains the issue of land. A key demand involves Ukraine relinquishing the areas of the Donbas it currently controls, while Ukraine prefers to freeze the lines. “Talks continue on the territorial issue. As is known, it is a central problem. At this point, there is no agreement on it yet,” Zelenskyy said after the Berlin talks.

American mediators, headed by two senior advisors, has proposed a middle-ground proposal. Under this plan would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russian troops would not advance, with the demilitarised area established as “a free economic zone.” Moscow has indicated it could use police and national guard units instead of the army in such an area, implying it would still seek to maintain authority there.

“Let me reiterate: a ‘free economic zone’ is not controlled by Moscow. Not legally or in practice do we accept the Donbas region – its temporarily occupied part – as belonging to Russia. Categorically,” stated President Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Potential Outcomes

The way ahead is uncertain how Moscow and Kyiv will proceed on the land question. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a negotiated arrangement like a free economic zone could be theoretically possible if the Ukrainian people voted for it in a national vote. The major impediment is expected to arise when the plans are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has given no sign he is prepared to concede on his war aims.

“Should Russia refuse all proposals, we will end up with exactly what we are experiencing on our flight right now – instability,” said Zelenskyy, making the statement after his plane departed from Berlin.

“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply more weapons if he rejects everything. In my view, that would be a fair request from us to the Americans,” he concluded.