🔗 Share this article Diplomatic Proposals Set to be Presented to Russia Within Days, States Zelenskyy President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a ceasefire agreement negotiated with US officials could be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives will submit the documentation to the Kremlin. Negotiations in Berlin Produce Significant Progress, 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 settled. Although the outlook appears positive, an actual conclusion to the conflict is not guaranteed, especially given the Russian absence from the current dialogue. Early Tuesday morning, Zelenskyy noted that the American legislature was anticipated to vote on security guarantees and that a finalised set of agreements might be ready “imminently.” Subsequently, the United States would engage in discussions with Russian representatives, leading to summit-level talks as soon as this weekend. Security Guarantees and International Support “The plan involves five key agreements. Several pertain to security guarantees: formally ratified, that is, voted on and approved by the US Congress,” the president commented to the press. He clarified that these assurances would “reflect the collective defense clause” of the Nato alliance. On Monday, American representatives declined to give precise information regarding the likely contents of the defense package or the consequences if Russia sought to capture additional territory after a peace deal. They did, however, confirm that the U.S. does not intend to place boots on the ground in Ukraine. Heads of state from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany and eight other European nations said in a unified declaration that troops from a “coalition of the willing” could “assist in the rebuilding of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting maritime security, including through operating inside its territory.” However, they did not proposing these actions would constitute assurances matching Nato’s article 5. In any case, there is little sign that Russia is near accepting the kind of arrangement under discussion between Washington and Kyiv. Kremlin Response and Territorial Dispute The following day, the Kremlin stated it had not received the details of the plans for security guarantees. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, declared that the country would not agree to troops from NATO member states operating in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.” The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and US negotiators continues to be the issue of land. A key demand involves Ukraine ceding the areas of the Donbas it currently controls, while Ukraine prefers to freeze the lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. You know, it is one of the key issues. Currently, there is no consensus on it yet,” Zelenskyy remarked after the Berlin talks. American mediators, headed by two senior advisors, has proposed a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russian troops would not move forward, with the resulting zone established as “an open economic area.” Moscow has suggested it could use internal security units rather than the military in such an area, implying it would still expect to control the territory. “Let me reiterate: a ‘special economic zone’ does not mean controlled by Moscow. Not legally or in practice will we recognise Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as Russian. Categorically,” said President Zelenskyy. Next Steps and Possible Scenarios It is not clear how Moscow and Kyiv will proceed on the territorial issue. The Ukrainian leader has previously suggested that a compromise solution like a free economic zone could be theoretically possible if the citizens of Ukraine approved 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 face exactly what we are encountering on our plane right now – instability,” commented Zelenskyy, recording the comments as his aircraft departed from Berlin. “I believe the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply additional armaments if he rejects everything. I think, that would be a fair request from us to the United States,” he concluded.