Diplomatic Plans Set to be Delivered to Russia Within Days, Says Ukraine's President

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a framework for a ceasefire agreement developed with US officials could be completed in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives are expected to present the documentation to the Russian leadership.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Significant Progress, With Critical Obstacles Remain

After two days of discussions in Berlin, American negotiators reported on Monday that around “90%” of the disputed points between Russia and Ukraine had been resolved. Although the outlook appears positive, the path to ending the conflict is not guaranteed, particularly because Russia's absence from the current dialogue.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Zelenskyy said that the US Congress was anticipated to consider security guarantees and that a complete package of agreements might be ready “today or tomorrow.” He added that, the U.S. would hold consultations with Russian representatives, leading to summit-level talks possibly this weekend.

Defense Assurances and International Support

“We are counting on five key agreements. Some of them concern security guarantees: legally binding, that is, voted on and endorsed by the US Congress,” Zelenskyy remarked to journalists. He stated that these assurances would “mirror article 5” of the Nato alliance.

On Monday, US officials declined to give precise information regarding the likely contents of the defense package or what would happen if Russia sought to capture more land following an agreement. Officials did confirm that the U.S. does not intend to place boots on the ground in the country.

Heads of state from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European nations issued a joint statement that troops from a “allied coalition” could “assist in the regeneration of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting safer seas, potentially by operating inside Ukraine.”

They stopped short, however, of proposing these actions would constitute guarantees equivalent to NATO's Article 5. In any case, there is scant indication that Moscow is near agreeing to the type of package under discussion between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Kremlin Response and Territorial Dispute

The following day, the Russian government stated it had not received the details of the plans for security guarantees. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergei Ryabkov, declared that the country would not agree to forces of NATO member states being stationed in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”

The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and US negotiators remains the issue of land. One proposal centers on Ukraine ceding the parts of the Donbas it currently controls, while Ukraine wants to maintain the current front lines. “We are discussing the territorial issue. You know, it is one of the key issues. At this point, there is no consensus on it yet,” the president said after the Berlin talks.

The US negotiation team, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has proposed a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukrainian forces pull back, but Russian troops would not move forward, with the resulting zone becoming “an open economic area.” Moscow has suggested it could use police and national guard units instead of the military in such an area, implying it would still expect to maintain authority there.

“I want to stress once again: a ‘free economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Russia. Not legally or in practice will we recognise the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as belonging to Russia. Absolutely,” said Zelenskyy.

Path Forward and Potential Outcomes

The way ahead is uncertain how the two sides will proceed on the land question. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution such as a free economic zone could be conceivable if the Ukrainian people approved it in a national vote. The critical stumbling block is expected to arise when the proposals are presented to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has given no sign he is willing to compromise on his military objectives.

“If Putin rejects everything, we will end up with exactly what we are encountering on our plane right now – instability,” said Zelenskyy, recording the comments as his aircraft took off from Berlin.

“I believe the United States will increase sanction pressure and supply more weapons if he rejects everything. In my view, that would be a reasonable expectation from us to the United States,” he concluded.