Peace Marathon: Florida, Paris, and three major problems
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine, its European allies, and the US are discussing a peace plan developed by Washington with the participation of Russia, which was later modified following meetings in Geneva and Florida. Zelenskyy listed three key issues he called the most complex during the negotiations: the issue of territories, security guarantees, and allocation of funds for defense and reconstruction.
On Monday, Zelenskyy visited France, and on Sunday, the Ukrainian delegation held talks in Florida with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff, and Jared Kushner. At a joint press conference with Macron, Zelenskyy noted that the final version of the peace plan is still being agreed upon. The Sunday consultations lasted six and a half hours.
Territory and financing conflict
"Frankly, the territorial issue is the most complex," he said. - And the issue of money and recovery is not easy to accept without European partners, because the money itself is in Europe. I consider this incorrect. And it is very important that there is clarity on the issue of security guarantees from both the US and Europe."
According to media reports, the initial version of the plan, consisting of 28 points, provides for the recognition of Russian occupied territories, the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, as well as the lifting of sanctions and the pardoning of war criminals. Kyiv opposed this. "We must guarantee that Russia does not consider this a reward for the war. The aggressor must pay for the aggression," Zelenskyy firmly stated.
Frozen assets and NATO guarantees
According to media reports, after negotiations in Geneva, the issue of territories was "left for separate discussion" in the document and left open for consideration by Trump and Zelenskyy at a mutual meeting. In the matter of security guarantees, a mechanism similar to the fifth article of the NATO Charter is being considered. According to Zelenskyy, members of the European "volunteer coalition" are preparing proposals. "We are working to ensure that a third Russian invasion is not guaranteed," he said.
Western countries are considering the possibility of using Russia's frozen assets in the EU for defense and recovery. However, the final decision has not yet been made due to the position of Belgium, where the Euroclear depository is located.
Next steps
Zelenskyy stated that he held additional talks with Whitkoff, Macron, Rustem Umerov, and UK Prime Minister Kir Starmer. On Tuesday, Whitkoff traveled to Moscow. The Ukrainian president will travel to Ireland, where members of the delegation "will step by step tell us what point the negotiations have reached." According to Vladimir Putin's latest statements, Russia does not intend to abandon its maximalistic demands on the terms of a ceasefire.
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