Ukraine Expresses Willingness to Accept U.S. Peace Proposal, Now Reliant on Russia
Context of the Proposal
Ukraine is reportedly poised to agree to a peace proposal introduced by President Donald Trump, with significant support from American officials. An official source indicated a “90%” alignment with the peace framework presented in Paris earlier this week by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and two special envoys focused on ending the Russian invasion. The upcoming week in London will be crucial as discussions aim for a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
Next Steps in Negotiation
“We want to reach a decision regarding a complete and comprehensive ceasefire next week in London,” stated the official. The focus will shift to discussions with Russia, where the intention will be to clarify, “Okay, this is your best and final offer” to ascertain both sides’ positions. If a consensus is not reached, it appears Trump is prepared to leave the negotiation table without Moscow’s agreement, potentially shifting accountability for the conflict to America’s European allies.
Additionally, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Umerov and his colleagues will continue working on their reservations regarding the peace plan, particularly concerning the delineation of ceasefire lines that would freeze current hostilities. “Part of their concern relates to territory… what they refer to as ‘de jure’ and ‘de facto’,” said the official. The recognition of Russian-held areas does not equate to a permanent concession from Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky asserting that Ukraine will never recognize the territories occupied by Russia as Russian.
Challenges to Reaching an Agreement
Zelensky has demonstrated willingness to suspend fighting along the currently established lines, where Russia occupies approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. To encourage Russia to engage in peace talks, Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff may propose a “carrot” approach involving a reduction of sanctions, including the release of frozen Russian assets totaling around $300 billion in Brussels.
However, experts warn that such moves could contradict previous demands by Trump to increase economic pressure on Moscow, which has not yielded results thus far. Alex Pleiczas from the Atlantic Council noted, “Trump was very rigid regarding the Ukrainians, cutting intelligence support and military aid when he felt he wasn’t receiving the immediate ‘yes’ he wanted from Ukraine regarding a ceasefire.”
Conclusion and International Implications
The ongoing Russian violations of ceasefires, refusal to agree to reasonable terms, and continued missile strikes and drstart attacks against Ukrainian civilians have complicated the peace process. Pleiczas emphasized that failure to achieve Trump’s stated goal of peace from the outset and the abandonment of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression would be seen as a defeat for the U.S. and NATO.
He advised the White House to toughen its stance against President Vladimir Putin, who has faced little accountability for his actions over the past 25 years. The continued aggressive behavior from Russia suggests that without a shift in approach, further aggression in Ukraine is likely. Ukrainian commitment to the peace process remains evident; they are open to a ceasefire, unlike Russia.
In the international arena, ongoing support for Ukraine and ensuring continued military assistance is critical. Any reduction in this support could embolden Russia to further assert its influence and territorial ambitions in the region