On January 7, the Center for Civic Energy "Vezha" hosted a discussion on the evolving negotiation process around Ukraine. Valeriy Kolachuk and centrist political scientist Ihor Reyterovych analyzed updates to the composition and status of the Ukrainian delegation and the active involvement of the US. Kyrylo Budanov, the newly appointed head of the Presidential Office, now acts in a new and influential role, having previously participated as a group member. The return of Davyd Arakhamia is seen as strengthening communication with parliament in case legislative changes are required.
The discussion noted the absence of US security guarantees in the final communiqué and the increasing importance of US actors as mediators for a potential end to the war. Two highlighted issues in negotiations are the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and territorial settlement questions, particularly concerning Donbas.
The US stance reportedly pushes for compromise over Donbas, possibly involving a withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from some territory, though a potential ceasefire along the front line or the creation of a demilitarized zone remains a possibility. The analysts considered the global implications of US actions toward Venezuela and Iran and their potential impact on Russia and China’s stance in the geopolitical context.
The conclusion emphasized that critical decisions may be adopted in the near future, and the outcome largely depends on coordination among the US, Russia, China, and European countries regarding the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
