The key facts

  • US plan: a demilitarized zone in Donbas, renunciation of NATO in exchange for investment and EU membership, a possible restart of Nord Stream
  • Kyiv, citing a Meduza source, is ready to stop the fire but does not intend to give up territories
  • Europe is considering five candidates for talks with Putin, including Meloni, Stubb, Pavel, Frederiksen and Støre

The contours of the American plan

The new US peace plan envisages the creation of a demilitarized zone in Donbas, The Economist reports, citing Ukrainian officials. It also provides for Ukraine's renunciation of NATO membership — in exchange, an investment program and membership in the European Union are offered. Separately under discussion are the easing of sanctions against Russia and a partial restoration of its ties with the West. The plan may include resuming gas supplies to Europe and restarting the Nord Stream pipelines. The publication emphasizes that these are only the 'contours' of the plan, and the details remain unknown.

Kyiv's position

The meeting between Steve Witkoff and Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo was received in Kyiv without enthusiasm, Meduza reports, citing a source close to the office of the president of Ukraine. The reason is Russia's continued demands that it hand over the annexed territories, including those that remain under Ukrainian control. The publication's interlocutor said: 'Kyiv is already ready today to stop the shooting along the line of contact, but we have a consensus: Ukraine will not give up its territories.'

Putin's reaction

Vladimir Putin commented on the negotiation process for the first time in an interview with propagandist Pavel Zarubin. He confirmed Moscow's readiness to resume 'trilateral contacts' and stressed that the goal is to discuss security issues of Ukraine and Russia 'not as a result of a cessation of hostilities, but in a final form.' On the question of territorial concessions from Ukraine, Putin said: 'This is not their territory, it is historically Russian territory. Therefore, in my opinion, it is inappropriate to speak of any territorial losses.'

Candidates from Europe

Europe is considering five candidates for conducting negotiations with Putin, The Telegraph writes: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Czech President Petr Pavel, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Norway is not an EU member). According to the publication's sources, Brussels may send not one but several people to the negotiations in order to avoid internal competition between countries.