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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a framework for a ceasefire agreement developed with American diplomats are poised to be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives are expected to submit the terms to the Kremlin.

Berlin Talks Yield Major Headway, With Critical Obstacles Persist

Following extensive talks in Berlin, American negotiators reported on Monday that around “90%” of the disputed points between Russia and Ukraine had been settled. Although the outlook appears positive, an actual conclusion to the conflict is not guaranteed, especially given the Russian absence from the ongoing discussions.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Zelenskyy noted that the US Congress was anticipated to consider defense assurances and that a complete package of documents could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” Subsequently, the United States would hold consultations with Moscow, leading to summit-level talks possibly this coming weekend.

Defense Assurances and International Support

“The plan involves five documents. Several pertain to security guarantees: legally binding, that is, approved and approved by the US Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to journalists. He stated that these guarantees would “reflect the collective defense clause” of the Nato alliance.

Earlier, American representatives declined to give precise information regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or the consequences if Russia sought to capture more land following an agreement. Officials did confirm that the United States has no plans to place boots on the ground in the country.

Heads of state from the UK, France, Germany and eight other European countries issued a joint statement that troops from a “allied coalition” could “help with the rebuilding of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukraine’s skies, and in ensuring maritime security, including through conducting operations within its territory.”

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 type of package under discussion between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Kremlin Response and Territorial Dispute

On Tuesday, the Kremlin stated it had not received the details of the plans for security guarantees. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, declared that the country would not agree to troops from Nato countries operating in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”

The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian team and their American counterparts continues to be the issue of land. One proposal centers on Kyiv ceding the areas of the Donbas it currently controls, while the Ukrainian side wants to freeze the lines. “We are discussing the land dispute. You know, it is a central problem. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” Zelenskyy remarked following the Berlin discussions.

The US negotiation team, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has proposed a middle-ground proposal. This framework would see Ukraine pull back, but Russian troops would not move forward, with the demilitarised area becoming “a free economic zone.” Russia has indicated it could use police and national guard formations rather than the army in such an area, implying it would still expect to control the territory.

“I want to stress once again: a ‘free economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise Donbas – its currently occupied areas – as Russian. Absolutely,” said President Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Potential Outcomes

The way ahead is uncertain how the two sides will resolve the territorial issue. The Ukrainian leader has earlier mentioned that a negotiated arrangement like a free economic zone might be conceivable if the Ukrainian people voted for it in a national vote. The major impediment is expected to arise when the proposals are put 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 precisely the situation we are experiencing on our flight right now – instability,” commented the president, recording the comments as his aircraft took off from Berlin.

“I believe the United States will apply sanctions pressure and provide us with additional armaments if he rejects everything. In my view, that would be a fair request from us to the United States,” he concluded.