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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that proposals for a peace deal developed with American diplomats could be completed in a matter of days. Afterward, American envoys will submit the documentation to the Kremlin.

Negotiations in Berlin Produce Significant Progress, With Critical Obstacles Persist

After two days of discussions in Berlin, US officials reported 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 conflict remains uncertain, particularly because Russia's absence from the ongoing discussions.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Ukrainian president said that the US Congress was anticipated to vote on security guarantees and that a complete package of agreements could be prepared “imminently.” He added that, the U.S. would hold consultations with Russian representatives, leading to high-level meetings as soon as this weekend.

Defense Assurances and Allied Backing

“We are counting on five key agreements. Some of them pertain to binding security pledges: formally ratified, that is, approved and approved by the US Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to journalists. He clarified that these guarantees would “reflect article 5” of the Nato alliance.

On Monday, US officials did not provide specific details regarding the likely contents of the security package or the consequences if Moscow sought to capture additional territory after a peace deal. Officials did confirm that the U.S. does not intend to deploy troops on the ground in the country.

Heads of state from the UK, France, Germany and several additional European countries said in a unified declaration that forces belonging to a “allied coalition” could “assist in the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in protecting Ukrainian airspace, and in supporting safer seas, potentially by operating inside its territory.”

However, they did not proposing these measures would serve as assurances matching NATO's Article 5. Furthermore, there is little sign that Russia is near accepting the type of package under discussion between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Moscow's Stance and Land Issue

The following day, the Kremlin stated it had not received the specifics of the proposals on security assurances. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, asserted that Russia would never accept troops from NATO member states operating in Ukrainian territory “no matter what.”

The primary obstacle between the Ukrainian team and US negotiators continues to be the territorial question. A key demand centers on Ukraine ceding the areas 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 one of the key issues. Currently, there is no agreement on it yet,” Zelenskyy remarked after the Berlin talks.

American mediators, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has suggested a middle-ground proposal. Under this plan would see Ukraine pull back, but Russian troops would not advance, with the demilitarised area becoming “an open economic area.” Russia has indicated it could use internal security units instead of the military in such an area, suggesting it would still seek to maintain authority there.

“I want to stress once again: a ‘special economic zone’ does not mean controlled by Russia. Not legally or in practice will we recognise the Donbas region – its currently occupied areas – as belonging to Russia. Absolutely,” said Zelenskyy.

Path Forward and Potential Outcomes

It is not clear how Moscow and Kyiv will resolve the land question. Zelenskyy has earlier mentioned that a compromise solution like a special economic area could be theoretically possible if the Ukrainian people voted for it in a referendum. The major impediment is expected to arise when the proposals are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has given no sign he is prepared to concede on his military objectives.

“Should Russia refuse all proposals, we will end up with precisely the situation we are experiencing on our plane right now – instability,” said the president, recording the comments after his plane took off from Berlin.

“I am confident the United States will apply sanctions pressure and supply additional armaments if they reject the deal. In my view, that would be a reasonable expectation from us to the Americans,” he concluded.