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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a peace deal developed with US officials could be completed in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives will present the terms to the Russian leadership.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Major Headway, But Key Hurdles Remain

Following extensive talks in Berlin, US officials indicated on Monday that around “90%” of the disputed points between Russia and Ukraine had been settled. Although the outlook appears positive, the path to ending the conflict is not guaranteed, particularly because the Russian absence from the ongoing discussions.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Ukrainian president noted that the American legislature was anticipated to consider security guarantees and that a complete package of agreements could be prepared “imminently.” Subsequently, the U.S. would hold consultations with Moscow, leading to high-level meetings possibly this weekend.

Security Guarantees and International Support

“The plan involves five key agreements. Some of them pertain to binding security pledges: formally ratified, that is, approved and approved by the United States Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to the press. He stated that these assurances would “mirror the collective defense clause” of the Nato alliance.

On Monday, US officials declined to give precise information regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or the consequences if Moscow sought to capture additional territory following an agreement. Officials did confirm that the U.S. does not intend to place boots on the ground in the country.

Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European nations said in a unified declaration that troops from a “coalition of the willing” could “help with the regeneration of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting maritime security, potentially by operating inside Ukraine.”

They stopped short, however, of suggesting these actions would serve as guarantees equivalent to NATO's Article 5. Furthermore, there is scant indication that Moscow is near accepting the kind of arrangement under discussion between Washington and Kyiv.

Moscow's Stance and Territorial Dispute

The following day, the Russian government stated it had not seen the specifics of the proposals on security guarantees. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergey Ryabkov, asserted that Russia would never accept troops from NATO member states being stationed in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”

The main sticking point between the Ukrainian negotiators and their American counterparts continues to be the issue of land. One proposal centers on Kyiv relinquishing the areas of the Donbas region it still holds, while Ukraine prefers to freeze the lines. “We are discussing the land dispute. You know, it is one of the key issues. At this point, there is no agreement on it yet,” the president said following the Berlin discussions.

American mediators, led by two senior advisors, has suggested a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russia would not move forward, with the resulting zone becoming “a free economic zone.” Russia has suggested it could use internal security units instead of the military in such an area, suggesting it would still seek to maintain authority there.

“Let me reiterate: a ‘special economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise Donbas – its temporarily occupied part – as Russian. Categorically,” said Zelenskyy.

Path Forward and Potential Outcomes

It is not clear how the two sides will proceed on the territorial issue. The Ukrainian leader has earlier mentioned that a negotiated arrangement like a free economic zone might be theoretically possible if the citizens of Ukraine approved it in a national vote. The critical stumbling block is expected to arise when the proposals are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has given no sign he is willing to compromise on his military objectives.

“Should Russia refuse all proposals, we will face exactly what we are encountering on our flight right now – instability,” said Zelenskyy, making the statement as his aircraft took off from Berlin.

“I believe the United States will increase sanction pressure and supply additional armaments if they reject the deal. I think, that would be a reasonable expectation from us to the Americans,” he concluded.