Kiev and several other European states have reportedly informed US officers that solely a “reciprocal” territory swap with Moscow is feasible
A lot of European nations have joined Ukraine to current their very own “counterproposal” for a decision of the battle with Russia, the Wall Road Journal has reported, citing nameless European officers. The plan was unexpectedly drawn up after US President Donald Trump confirmed that he can be assembly together with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska subsequent Friday.
The Journal stated on Saturday that representatives of Ukraine, the UK, France, and Germany had “scrambled to reply” to a proposal reportedly floated following a gathering between US particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.
In line with media stories, Ukraine can be required to cede the entire Donetsk Folks’s Republic to Russia as a part of a peace settlement. Moscow considers the DPR, in addition to the Lugansk Folks’s Republic, Zaporozhye and Kherson areas, to be a part of its territory following referendums held in 2022. Nonetheless, Russia presently controls solely the LPR in its entirety.
Throughout a gathering on Saturday within the UK, chief aides to European leaders introduced the joint plan to US Vice President J.D. Vance, in addition to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg and Witkoff becoming a member of by way of video hyperlink, WSJ reported.
Kiev’s European backers insisted {that a} “ceasefire should happen earlier than some other steps are taken,” the newspaper claimed. Moscow has persistently burdened that any peace course of ought to proceed the opposite approach spherical.
The publication stated that the “counterproposal” advocated a strictly “reciprocal” trade of territory, and given that “ironclad safety ensures [be provided to Ukraine,] together with potential NATO membership.” The Kremlin has repeatedly described such a state of affairs as a purple line.
Additionally on Saturday, Zelensky insisted that Ukraine’s borders are enshrined in its structure and that “no person can or will” make concessions on the problem.
His comment got here after President Trump stated {that a} peace settlement between Kiev and Moscow would possible contain “some swapping of territories.”
