Are we any closer to peace in Ukraine?
After a frantic, often confusing few days of diplomacy, Donald Trump seems to think so.
We're getting very close to a deal, he told reporters on Tuesday.
For his part, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who had looked and sounded grim over the weekend, said there were now many prospects that can make the path to peace real.
There are significant results, he said, after reviewing the results of Sunday's key discussions in Geneva, and there is still much work to be done.
However, from the Russian side, the response has been somewhat muted with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stating that while some elements of the latest draft are viewed positively, many require further discussions among experts. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman even labeled the notion of a close deal as premature.
Last Wednesday feels like an eternity ago when a leaked draft of a 28-point US plan to end the war emerged, causing anxiety within Kyiv over its implications for territorial integrity and military presence.
In response, European leaders quickly formulated a counter-proposal, focusing on negotiations for territorial swaps rather than outright concessions.
A joint US-Ukrainian statement characterized recent talks as highly productive, aiming for a sustainable and just peace. Ukrainian officials expressed relief, particularly noting that contentious issues regarding territory and military alignment with NATO were deferred for higher-level discussions.
The interplay of competing interests and diplomatic pressures continues. The plan’s security guarantees remain ambiguous, a significant area of concern among Ukrainian officials wary of making concessions to a nation that has invaded their territory.
The concept of "reliable security guarantees" hinted at resembling NATO's collective defense under Article 5, but concrete commitments from the US are still awaited.
As diplomatic dialogues progress, uncertainties regarding territory and how Ukraine's sovereignty will be protected linger. The current landscape showcases a rare momentum towards potential peace, yet with substantial roadblocks and the specter of mistrust on both sides.
In conclusion, while there is a palpable drive towards peace being fostered by significant diplomatic actors, the path ahead is fraught with complexities that could shape the future of Ukraine and its ongoing struggle for sovereignty.
