Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signalled willingness to make concessions in key negotiating points that have stalled the peace talks to end the nearly four-year war with Russia.
In a presser on Tuesday, Zelenskiy gave details of a 20-point plan that he described as a “foundation document on ending the war, a political document between us, America and the Russians”. Zelenskiy said it would be acceptable for his country to withdraw from some parts of the eastern Donetsk region that are currently held by Russian forces, including the key cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk that are blocking any potential Russian advance deeper into the region. In turn, Russia would also have to engage in withdrawal of its troops equivalent to those of Ukraine. “If we establish a free economic zone here, and it envisages a virtually demilitarized zone, – meaning heavy forces are removed from this area – and the distance, for example, is 40 kilometers – then if these two cities, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, are our free economic zone, the Russians would have to pull back their troops accordingly by five, 10, or 40 kilometers,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian leader also spoke about security guarantees for his country that would form a key part of any peace talks with Russia. The Ukrainian leader said he was awaiting a response from Russia Wednesday after the US-Russia talks.
The 20-point proposed by Zelenskiy is an updated version of the original US-proposed 28-point plant that had been discussed with Russia. Security assurances for Ukraine from the United States, NATO, and European countries that President Zelensky said would “reflect Article 5,” NATO’s core mutual defense principle. Under the proposal, a Russian invasion would trigger a military response and the reimposition of sanctions on Moscow, while the guarantees would be withdrawn if Ukraine initiates an attack on Russia or fires into Russian territory without provocation.
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