In response, Europe is taking the lead by establishing a new multinational training mission for Ukraine. This multi-faceted welcome initiative is the first step within a proposed peace plan to stabilize the region after almost two years of discord. The initiative follows Ukraine’s ongoing drive to join NATO, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has identified as a significant threat to Moscow’s security. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, its military aggression has catalyzed immediate action and debate within the West. Their efforts have now shifted to protecting Ukraine’s future and preventing any continued aggression from Russia.
As envisioned in the proposed peace agreement, Ukraine would be allowed to have a standing army of 800,000 troops, backed by Western countries. The United States would spearhead a “ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism” aimed at providing early warnings of any future attacks on Ukrainian territory. This comes as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled a willingness to abandon his country’s NATO aspirations if the U.S. and its allies can offer legally binding security assurances.
Zelenskyy clarified just last week his wish to achieve a “complete mutual understanding” on the peace plan by Christmas time. In another important section, he recognizes the profound differences between Ukraine and Russia on the issue of territory, most notably with regard to the eastern Donbas region. Zelenskyy held intensive discussions with U.S. officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Even with the many contested issues still in play, he voiced hope that there could still be viable terms for peace.
“Over the past two days, Ukrainian-US negotiations have been constructive and productive, with real progress achieved.” – Rustem Umerov
Among the other Western leaders Zelenskyy visited in Berlin was German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, who received him with honour at the chancellery. Merz highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that the conflict represents “a fundamental change to the borders in Europe, the restoration of the old Soviet Union within its borders.” As difficult and dangerous as they are, these discussions about Ukraine’s future are absolutely essential. They shape the country’s relationship with Europe, as well as with Russia.
European nations are preparing to sign recently negotiated accords as part of a much larger security tapestry. These articles will provide for Ukraine “article five-like” assurances of enhanced protection, producing much-needed deterrence. These guarantees are meant to enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the event of a future renewal of hostilities by Russia. U.S. officials have described this proposed security framework as “the most robust set of security protocols they have ever seen.”
“I think the Ukrainians would tell you, as would the Europeans, that this is the most robust set of security protocols they have ever seen.” – US official
Yet, negotiations are still clouded by disputes over the future ownership of key Ukrainian infrastructure. Unintended consequences Future operations of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain a source of extreme contention. Today, it’s still firmly in Russian hands, further fueling the argument. U.S. officials have suggested dividing the power produced by the plant evenly between the two countries. This concept has so far proven difficult to get off the ground.
Ukrainian leaders should be heartened by the manifestly warm support of European leaders for their application to join the European Union. This step will deepen Ukraine’s integration within Western political and economic systems. As negotiations move forward, things are still fraught. Putin’s government is implacably opposed to NATO expansion and intransigently asserts its sovereignty over Ukrainian land.
“Naturally this issue is one of the cornerstones and, of course, it is subject to special discussion.” – Dmitry Peskov
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has made remarks on the fragile negotiations. Yet he thinks that good strides are being made in negotiations with Putin. “We had numerous conversations with President Putin of Russia, and I think we’re closer now than we have been ever, and we’ll see what we can do,” he stated. Trump’s comments signal that the desire for de-escalation might be growing among U.S. officials too.
“Well, they’ve already lost the territory, to be honest.” – Trump
These important discussions are not enough as historic and deep-rooted disagreements on territorial integrity and sovereignty remain between Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy wasn’t afraid to underscore this reality during his visit, admitting that although talks have advanced, there are still gaps on some important points.
“There has been sufficient dialogue on the territory, and I think that, frankly speaking, we still have different positions.” – Zelenskyy
As Europe prepares to take a leading role in these peace efforts, it faces the dual challenge of addressing Russia’s military ambitions while ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. The next few weeks are going to be very important. Negotiators should be committed to achieving a sustainable solution to cessation of hostilities and to establishing a long-lasting peace and reconciliation process.