Peace Plans Set to be Presented to Moscow In the Coming Days, States Ukraine's President

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that proposals for a peace deal developed with US officials could be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, American envoys will submit the terms to the Kremlin.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Significant Progress, But Key Hurdles Persist

After two days of discussions in Berlin, American negotiators reported on Monday that around “90%” of the contentious issues between Moscow and Kyiv had been settled. Despite this optimistic assessment, an actual conclusion to the conflict is not guaranteed, particularly because the Russian absence from the current dialogue.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Ukrainian president noted that the American legislature was anticipated to consider security guarantees and that a finalised set of agreements might be ready “today or tomorrow.” He added that, the U.S. would hold consultations with Moscow, potentially followed by summit-level talks possibly this coming weekend.

Defense Assurances and Allied Backing

“We are counting on five documents. Several concern security guarantees: legally binding, that is, voted on and endorsed by the US Congress,” the president remarked to journalists. He stated that these guarantees would “mirror article 5” of the Nato alliance.

On Monday, US officials did not provide specific details regarding the probable makeup of the security package or the consequences if Moscow sought to capture more land following an agreement. Officials did confirm that the United States has no plans to deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European nations issued a joint statement that troops from a “coalition of the willing” could “help with the rebuilding of Ukraine’s forces, in protecting Ukrainian airspace, and in supporting maritime security, including through operating inside Ukraine.”

They stopped short, however, of proposing these actions would constitute guarantees equivalent to NATO's Article 5. In any case, there is scant indication that Russia is anywhere close to agreeing to the kind of arrangement under discussion between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Kremlin Response and Land Issue

The following day, the Russian government stated it had not received the details of the proposals on security assurances. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergey Ryabkov, declared that Russia would not agree to troops from Nato countries operating in Ukrainian territory “under any circumstances.”

The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian negotiators and US negotiators continues to be the issue of land. A key demand involves Kyiv relinquishing the areas of the Donbas it still holds, while Ukraine wants to maintain the current front lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. You know, it is a central problem. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” the president said after the Berlin talks.

American mediators, headed by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has suggested a middle-ground proposal. Under this plan would see Ukrainian forces pull back, but Russia would not advance, with the demilitarised area becoming “a free economic zone.” Russia has indicated it could use police and national guard units instead of the army in such an area, implying it would still seek to control the territory.

“I want to stress once again: a ‘special economic zone’ is not under the control of Moscow. Not legally or in practice will we recognise Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as Russian. Categorically,” stated President Zelenskyy.

Path Forward and Possible Scenarios

It is not clear how the two sides will resolve the territorial issue. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution such as a free economic zone could be theoretically possible if the Ukrainian people voted for it in a national vote. The critical stumbling block is likely to be when the plans are put 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 – turbulence,” said the president, recording the comments as his aircraft took off 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 Ukraine to the United States,” he added.