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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a ceasefire agreement negotiated with US officials are poised to be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives are expected to present the documentation to the Russian leadership.

Berlin Talks Yield Significant Progress, With Critical Obstacles Remain

Following extensive talks in Berlin, American negotiators indicated on Monday that around “90%” of the disputed points between Russia and Ukraine had been settled. Despite this optimistic assessment, the path to ending the conflict is not guaranteed, particularly because Russia's absence from the current dialogue.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Ukrainian president said that the American legislature is expected to consider defense assurances and that a finalised set of documents might be ready “imminently.” He added that, the U.S. would engage in discussions with Moscow, potentially followed by high-level meetings as soon as this weekend.

Defense Assurances and International Support

“We are counting on five documents. Some of them pertain to security guarantees: formally ratified, that is, voted on and approved by the United States Congress,” the president commented to the press. He stated that these assurances would “reflect article 5” of the Nato alliance.

Earlier, US officials declined to give precise information regarding the likely contents of the defense package or what would happen if Moscow sought to capture additional territory after a peace deal. They did, however, confirm that the U.S. does not intend to deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany and several additional European nations said in a unified declaration that forces belonging to a “allied coalition” could “assist in the regeneration of Ukrainian military capabilities, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in ensuring safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine.”

However, they did not suggesting these actions would serve as guarantees equivalent to Nato’s article 5. Furthermore, there is scant indication that Russia is near accepting the type of package being negotiated between Washington and Kyiv.

Kremlin Response and Territorial Dispute

The following day, the Kremlin stated it had not seen the specifics of the proposals on security assurances. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergei Ryabkov, asserted that the country would never accept forces of Nato countries being stationed in Ukrainian territory “under any circumstances.”

The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian negotiators and US negotiators remains the issue of land. One proposal centers on Kyiv relinquishing the parts of the Donbas region it still holds, while Ukraine wants to freeze the lines. “Talks continue on the territorial issue. You know, it is one of the key issues. At this point, there is no consensus on it yet,” the president remarked after the Berlin talks.

American mediators, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has proposed a compromise solution. This framework would see Ukraine withdraw, but Russian troops would not advance, with the demilitarised area established as “a free economic zone.” Russia has indicated it could use police and national guard units instead of the military in such an area, suggesting it would still seek to control the territory.

“Let me reiterate: a ‘special economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Moscow. Not legally or in practice do we accept the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as Russian. Absolutely,” stated President Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Possible Scenarios

It is not clear how Moscow and Kyiv will proceed on the land question. The Ukrainian leader has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution like a special economic area might be theoretically possible if the citizens of Ukraine voted for it in a national vote. The critical stumbling block is expected to arise when the plans are put to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has shown no indication he is willing to compromise on his military objectives.

“If Putin rejects everything, we will end up with exactly what we are encountering on our flight right now – turbulence,” commented Zelenskyy, recording the comments as his aircraft took off from Berlin.

“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply more weapons if they reject the deal. I think, that would be a fair request from Ukraine to the United States,” he added.