Diplomatic Plans Set to be Presented to Russia Within Days, Says Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that a framework for a peace deal developed with US officials are poised to be completed in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives are expected to present the documentation to the Kremlin.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Significant Progress, But Key Hurdles Remain

After two days of discussions in Berlin, US officials indicated on Monday that approximately “90%” of the contentious issues between Moscow and Kyiv had been resolved. Although the outlook appears positive, an actual conclusion to the war is not guaranteed, especially given Russia's absence from the current dialogue.

Early Tuesday morning, Zelenskyy noted that the American legislature is expected to consider security guarantees and that a finalised set of documents could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” He added that, the U.S. would engage in discussions with Moscow, leading to summit-level talks as soon as this coming weekend.

Security Guarantees and International Support

“We are counting on five key agreements. Some of them pertain to binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, voted on and endorsed by the United States Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to the press. He stated that these guarantees would “reflect article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

On Monday, US officials did not provide specific details regarding the likely contents of the defense package or what would happen if Moscow sought to capture more land following an agreement. 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 several additional European countries issued a joint statement that troops from a “coalition of the willing” could “help with the rebuilding of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in ensuring safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine.”

They stopped short, however, of proposing these actions would serve as guarantees matching NATO's Article 5. Furthermore, there is scant indication that Moscow is near accepting the type of package being negotiated between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Kremlin Response and Territorial Dispute

On Tuesday, the Kremlin said it had not received the details of the plans for security guarantees. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergei Ryabkov, asserted that the country would never accept forces of Nato countries operating in Ukrainian territory “under any circumstances.”

The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and their American counterparts remains the territorial question. A key demand centers on Kyiv relinquishing the areas of the Donbas region it still holds, while Ukraine prefers to maintain the current front lines. “We are discussing the territorial issue. As is known, it is a central problem. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” the president said after the Berlin talks.

American mediators, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has suggested a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russia would not advance, with the resulting zone becoming “an open economic area.” Moscow has indicated it could use police and national guard formations rather than the military in such an area, suggesting it would still expect to control the territory.

“I want to stress once again: a ‘special economic zone’ does not mean controlled by Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto do we accept Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as belonging to Russia. Categorically,” said President Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Possible Scenarios

It is not clear how Moscow and Kyiv will proceed on the territorial issue. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a negotiated arrangement such as a free economic zone could be theoretically possible if the Ukrainian people approved it in a national vote. The critical stumbling block is likely to be when the proposals are put to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has shown no indication he is prepared to concede on his war aims.

“If Putin rejects everything, we will face exactly what we are encountering on our flight right now – turbulence,” commented the president, recording the comments after his plane took off from Berlin.

“I am confident the United States will increase sanction pressure and provide us with additional armaments if they reject the deal. In my view, that would be a reasonable expectation from Ukraine to the Americans,” he added.