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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a ceasefire agreement developed with US officials are poised to be completed in a matter of days. Following this, American envoys will submit the documentation to the Kremlin.

Berlin Talks Yield Major Headway, With Critical Obstacles Persist

After two days of discussions in Berlin, American negotiators indicated on Monday that approximately “90%” of the disputed points between Russia and Ukraine had been resolved. Although the outlook appears positive, an actual conclusion to the war remains uncertain, particularly because the Russian lack of participation from the current dialogue.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Zelenskyy said that the US Congress is expected to vote on defense assurances and that a complete package of agreements might be ready “imminently.” Subsequently, the United States would engage in discussions with Russian representatives, leading to summit-level talks as soon as this weekend.

Security Guarantees and Allied Backing

“The plan involves five key agreements. Some of them pertain to binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, approved and approved by the United States Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to journalists. He clarified that these guarantees would “mirror article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

On Monday, American representatives did not provide precise information regarding the probable makeup of the security package or the consequences if Russia sought to capture more land after a peace deal. They did, however, confirm that the United States has no plans to place boots on the ground in Ukraine.

Leaders from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European countries said in a unified declaration that troops from a “allied coalition” could “help with the rebuilding of Ukrainian military capabilities, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in ensuring maritime security, including through operating inside Ukraine.”

However, they did not suggesting these actions would serve as guarantees equivalent to Nato’s article 5. In any case, there is little sign that Moscow is near accepting the type of package under discussion between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Kremlin Response and Land Issue

The following day, the Russian government said it had not received the specifics of the proposals on security guarantees. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, asserted that the country would never accept troops from NATO member states operating in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”

The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and US negotiators continues to be the territorial question. A key demand centers on Kyiv relinquishing the parts of the Donbas it still holds, while Ukraine wants to maintain the current front lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. You know, it is a central problem. Currently, there is no consensus on it yet,” Zelenskyy remarked following the Berlin discussions.

The US negotiation team, led by two senior advisors, has proposed a middle-ground proposal. This framework would see Ukrainian forces pull back, but Russia would not advance, with the demilitarised area established as “an open economic area.” Russia has suggested it could use internal security units instead of the military in such an area, implying it would still seek to control the territory.

“Let me reiterate: a ‘special economic zone’ does not mean controlled by Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise Donbas – its currently occupied areas – as Russian. Categorically,” stated Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Possible Scenarios

The way ahead is uncertain how Moscow and Kyiv will proceed on the land question. Zelenskyy has previously suggested that a negotiated arrangement like a free economic zone might be theoretically possible if the citizens of Ukraine approved it in a referendum. The critical stumbling block is expected to arise when the proposals are put to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has shown no indication he is willing to compromise on his war aims.

“If Putin rejects everything, we will end up with exactly what we are experiencing on our flight right now – turbulence,” commented the president, recording the comments after his plane took off from Berlin.

“I believe the United States will apply sanctions pressure and provide us with more weapons if they reject the deal. In my view, that would be a fair request from us to the Americans,” he concluded.