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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a peace deal developed with American diplomats are poised to be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, U.S. representatives are expected to submit the terms to the Russian leadership.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Major Headway, But Key Hurdles Persist

Following extensive talks in Berlin, American negotiators indicated on Monday that approximately “90%” of the contentious issues between Moscow and Kyiv had been resolved. Although the outlook appears positive, an actual conclusion to the war is not guaranteed, particularly because Russia's absence from the current dialogue.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Ukrainian president noted that the US Congress is expected to vote on defense assurances and that a complete package of documents might be ready “today or tomorrow.” Subsequently, the U.S. would hold consultations with Russian representatives, potentially followed by high-level meetings as soon as this weekend.

Defense Assurances and Allied Backing

“We are counting on five documents. Some of them concern security guarantees: legally binding, that is, approved and approved by the US Congress,” Zelenskyy remarked to journalists. He stated that these assurances would “reflect article 5” of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

On Monday, American representatives did not provide precise information regarding the likely contents of the security package or what would happen if Russia attempted to seize additional territory following an agreement. Officials did 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 rebuilding of Ukrainian military capabilities, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in ensuring safer seas, potentially by operating inside Ukraine.”

However, they did not suggesting these actions would serve as assurances matching Nato’s article 5. In any case, there is little sign that Russia is anywhere close to agreeing to the kind of arrangement being negotiated between Washington and Kyiv.

Moscow's Stance and Territorial Dispute

On Tuesday, the Russian government said it had not received the details of the proposals on security assurances. Additionally, a senior Russian diplomat, Sergey Ryabkov, declared that the country would never accept forces of NATO member states operating in Ukraine “no matter what.”

The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and their American counterparts continues to be the issue of land. One proposal centers on Ukraine ceding the parts of the Donbas it still holds, while the Ukrainian side wants to freeze the lines. “We are discussing the territorial issue. As is known, it is a central problem. At this point, there is no consensus on it yet,” Zelenskyy said following the Berlin discussions.

American mediators, headed by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has suggested a middle-ground proposal. Under this plan would see Ukraine pull back, but Russia would not move forward, with the demilitarised area becoming “a free economic zone.” Moscow has indicated it could use police and national guard formations instead of the army in such an area, suggesting it would still expect to control the territory.

“I want to stress once again: a ‘special economic zone’ is not under the control of Russia. Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as Russian. Categorically,” said President Zelenskyy.

Next Steps and Potential Outcomes

The way ahead is uncertain how Moscow and Kyiv will resolve the territorial issue. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution such as a special economic area might be conceivable if the Ukrainian people voted for it in a national vote. The major impediment is likely to be when the proposals are presented to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who has shown no indication he is prepared to concede on his military objectives.

“If Putin rejects everything, we will end up with precisely the situation we are experiencing on our flight right now – instability,” commented Zelenskyy, making the statement as his aircraft took off from Berlin.

“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply additional armaments if he rejects everything. In my view, that would be a fair request from Ukraine to the United States,” he concluded.