On January 8, the Center for Public Analytics "Vezha" summed up the day's key developments in a conversation between Valeriy Kolochuk and political analyst Ihor Chelenko. The main focus was on ongoing international negotiations for Ukraine's security guarantees, particularly with the US and the EU, including draft peace agreements and shifts in the political landscape amid ongoing war.
President Zelensky announced that the bilateral security document with the US is ready but noted no similar agreement exists with the EU. The Ukrainian side presented proposals for a potential framework peace agreement, awaiting Russia's response to its readiness for peace.
News emerged about Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev being in Paris during intensive negotiations. The discussion analyzed his intermediary role and why Paris could act as a negotiation platform between European and American actors.
The US security commitments to Ukraine serve as a lever of political pressure on Russia, with current attention on heavy fighting in the Donetsk region and economic measures like oil sanctions and actions against the "shadow fleet." These show efforts to exert comprehensive pressure on Moscow.
Work continues on draft election legislation in the Ukrainian parliament. The positions of various stakeholders—civil society, the Central Election Commission, and the President—on the possibility of holding presidential elections during martial law were highlighted. The timeline remains uncertain, and organizing parliamentary elections proves even more complicated in the current context.
The discussion concluded with an analysis of the unstable unity among Western partners supporting Ukraine and reflected on the roles of the US, EU, and Donald Trump in the security guarantee processes.
