Peace proposal to end Ukraine war could be presented to Russia within days, Zelenskyy says
Following the latest discussions, US officials on Monday said that Washington has reportedly agreed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a peace deal to end Russia's nearly four-year war.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff gather for a family photo at the Chancellery in Berlin. (AP)
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that a peace proposal to end the nearly four year old conflict with Russia which is being negotiated with the US officials could be finalised in a few days, after which American officials would present it before Moscow in further meetings in the US next weekend.
Zelenskyy, while discussing the draft plan with the reporters in Berlin on Monday, said that the plan discussed with the US counterpart is “not perfect” but is “very workable.” The Ukrainian leader, however, cautioned that certain issues like what would happen to Ukrainian territory being occupied by Russian forces remain unresolved.
Yesterday we had our first meeting with Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner, as well as with the U.S. team. Prior to that, our teams had held the relevant meetings. It is very important that our counterparts from the United States of America heard all the details regarding the war. If…
Zelenskyy said that after the talks in Berlin, “We are very close to (a deal on) strong security guarantees.” An official from a NATO nation, quoted by AP, said that the security proposal would be based on Western help which is poised to keep the Ukrainian army strong.
“Europeans will lead a multinational and multi-domain force to strengthen those troops and to secure Ukraine from the land, sea and air, and the US will lead a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, with international participation,” the official added.
In response to talks in Berlin on a potential peace proposal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s stance on Tuesday that Russia wants a comprehensive peace deal, not a temporary truce. If Ukraine seeks “momentary, unsustainable solutions, we are unlikely to be ready to participate,” he said.
“We want peace, we don’t want a truce that would give Ukraine a respite and prepare for the continuation of the war. We want to stop this war, achieve our goals, secure our interests, and guarantee peace in Europe for the future,” Peskov told reporters.
US agrees to provide security guarantees to Ukraine
Following the latest discussions, US officials on Monday said that Washington has reportedly agreed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a peace deal to end Russia’s nearly four-year war. Officials said ongoing talks in Berlin with President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner narrowed the differences on security guarantees which Zelenskyy led Kyiv said must be provided.
“I think we’re closer now than we have been, ever. We’re having tremendous support from European leaders. They want to get it ended, also,” Trump said in a White House event.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff gather for a family photo at the Chancellery in Berlin. (AP) 
