Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, ahead of talks in Berlin with European and American leaders, acknowledged that no plan for resolving the Donbas conflict will satisfy all parties completely.
Zelensky revealed that the US proposal suggests that Ukrainian forces leave certain areas of Donetsk region currently under their control, while Russian troops would not move into these territories. Meanwhile, Russia maintains that a withdrawal of Ukrainian forces is a key precondition for further ceasefire talks. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov indicated that, instead of troops, units of Russia's National Guard could be deployed, which experts note is effectively the same as military control.
Zelensky expressed doubts about the feasibility of the American plan. He emphasized that if its implementation fails, alternative approaches to resolving the conflict will need to be explored. This view contrasts with the more optimistic statements by some European leaders regarding the proximity of peace. The President also noted that possible Russian compromises could be driven by internal economic pressures and Moscow's desire to avoid further US sanctions.
At the same time, part of the negotiation process aims to keep support from Donald Trump's administration, particularly in military aid and technical cooperation with Ukraine. According to Zelensky, Kyiv and European leaders want any failures in peace initiatives to be attributed to Russia, not Ukraine.
Experts highlight that current Russian leadership is focused on prolonging the conflict and delaying a real peace settlement. Putin appears intent on avoiding direct confrontation with Washington while minimizing the impact of potential new US sanctions.
In conclusion, Zelensky admitted that after the potential failure of the current plan, alternative methods to end the Russia-Ukraine war will have to be considered.
