Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that proposals for a peace deal to resolve the ongoing war with Russia, negotiated with U.S. officials, could be finalized within days. Following this, American envoys are expected to present the proposals to the Kremlin, with potential further meetings scheduled in the United States next weekend.
During a press conference on Monday evening, Zelenskyy indicated that the draft peace plan discussed during talks in Berlin earlier that day is "very workable." However, he pointed out that some critical issues remain unresolved, particularly concerning the fate of Ukrainian territory occupied by Russian forces.
The U.S.-led peace initiatives seem to be gaining momentum. Nonetheless, Russian President Vladimir Putin may resist some aspects of the proposals developed by officials from the U.S., Ukraine, and Western Europe, especially regarding postwar security guarantees for Ukraine. American officials reported a consensus from both Ukraine and European allies on approximately 90% of the U.S.-authored peace plan. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism, stating, "I think we’re closer now than we have ever been to a peace settlement."
Despite this progress, significant challenges remain. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's stance that it will not recognize any part of the Donbas region, which consists of Luhansk and Donetsk, as being under Russian control. The region is economically significant, yet Russia does not fully control it. Zelenskyy remarked on proposals for a "free economic zone" in the Donbas, emphasizing that such an arrangement would not imply control by the Russian Federation.
The territorial issue is one of the most formidable obstacles to reaching a comprehensive agreement. Putin demands recognition of all areas in four key regions occupied by his forces, in addition to the Crimea Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, as Russian territory.
Zelenskyy warned that should Putin dismiss diplomatic efforts, Ukraine anticipates increased Western pressures on Moscow, which would include tougher sanctions and additional military support for its defense. He noted that if diplomacy fails, Kyiv would pursue enhanced air defense systems and long-range weaponry.
Ukraine and the U.S. are in the process of preparing up to five documents related to the peace framework, with several focusing on security. Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the discussions held in Berlin, describing them as a demonstration of unity among the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine. "Overall, there was a demonstration of unity," he stated, highlighting the positive sentiment that emerged from the talks.
