Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been careful not to criticise or reject a US draft peace deal to end the Ukraine war – even though it appears to heavily reflect many of Moscow’s demands.
On Thursday, the White House pushed back on claims Ukraine was not involved in the drafting of the plan, which emerged after meetings between the US and Russia.
In his nightly address, Zelensky said Ukraine needed peace and would engage in diplomacy and issue no rash statements. He said Ukraine was “ready for constructive, honest and efficient work”.
But there is deep concern about some of the reported proposals, including giving up the entire Donbas region, reducing the size of Ukraine’s military, and ruling out the presence of international troops in the country – concessions which Ukraine has rejected in the past.
Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn told the Kyiv Independent that Washington wanted a “quick peace at the expense of one side, which they consider weaker”.
Recent events may have further weakened Ukraine’s position. Russia has made further advances in the east of the country. Moscow’s long-range strikes on Ukraine’s grid has left most of the country facing power cuts. Allegations of serious corruption in Ukraine’s government have also led to political infighting and diverted attention from the war.
All these issues are impossible to ignore in both Washington and Moscow.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that peace will require difficult decisions on both sides. A draft published in the media does include a promise of “reliable security guarantees” for Ukraine.
It’s believed to suggest some frozen Russian assets should be used to help rebuild Ukraine. While the draft rules out Ukraine’s membership of the Nato military alliance, it keeps the door open for its membership of the European Union.
Europe itself appears to have had little say over the drafting of this plan. There’s no mention of the efforts led by the UK and France to provide an international reassurance force in Ukraine, should there be a ceasefire. The draft explicitly rules out the presence of foreign troops.
Europe wants its voice heard. Pressure from European allies could still help Zelensky alter the draft proposals.
But there may not be much time. US officials who presented the plan, approved by US President Donald Trump, are said to be working to an aggressive timetable – weeks, not months. They’re expected to travel to Moscow soon.
Any hopes of getting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky in the same room to negotiate appears to have been abandoned.
Trump, who’s often claimed he can quickly end the war, seems to be running out of patience. He just wants the two sides to sign up to a deal.
