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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated that a framework for a peace deal negotiated with US officials could be finalised in a matter of days. Afterward, American envoys will submit the terms to the Kremlin.

Berlin Talks Yield Major Headway, But Key Hurdles Remain

Following extensive talks in Berlin, American negotiators reported on Monday that around “90%” of the disputed points between Moscow and Kyiv had been settled. Although the outlook appears positive, the path to ending the conflict is not guaranteed, particularly because Russia's lack of participation from the current dialogue.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Zelenskyy noted that the US Congress is expected to consider security guarantees and that a complete package of documents could be prepared “today or tomorrow.” Subsequently, the United States would engage in discussions with Russian representatives, potentially followed by summit-level talks as soon as this coming weekend.

Defense Assurances and International Support

“We are counting on five documents. Some of them concern binding security pledges: legally binding, that is, approved and approved by the US Congress,” Zelenskyy commented to the press. He clarified that these assurances would “mirror article 5” of the Nato alliance.

Earlier, US officials did not provide specific details regarding the probable makeup of the defense package or what would happen if Russia sought to capture more land following an agreement. They did, however, confirm that the U.S. does not intend to deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Heads of state from the UK, France, Germany and several additional European nations said in a unified declaration that troops from a “coalition of the willing” could “assist in the rebuilding of Ukrainian military capabilities, in protecting Ukrainian airspace, and in supporting maritime security, potentially by operating inside Ukraine.”

However, they did not suggesting these actions would constitute guarantees equivalent to Nato’s article 5. In any case, there is scant indication that Russia is anywhere close to accepting the kind of arrangement being negotiated between Washington and Kyiv.

Moscow's Stance and Land Issue

The following day, the Kremlin said it had not received the specifics of the proposals on security guarantees. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, asserted that Russia would never accept troops from Nato countries being stationed in Ukrainian territory “under any circumstances.”

The main sticking point between the Ukrainian team and US negotiators continues to be the territorial question. One proposal involves Kyiv relinquishing the areas of the Donbas region it still holds, while the Ukrainian side prefers to maintain the current front lines. “Talks continue on the land dispute. You know, it is one of the key issues. At this point, there is no agreement on it yet,” the president remarked after the Berlin talks.

The US negotiation team, led by two senior advisors, has suggested a compromise solution. Under this plan would see Ukrainian forces withdraw, but Russian troops would not move forward, with the resulting zone becoming “a free economic zone.” Moscow has indicated it could use internal security formations instead of the military in such an area, implying it would still seek to maintain authority there.

“Let me reiterate: a ‘free economic zone’ is not under the control of Moscow. Not legally or in practice will we recognise Donbas – its currently occupied areas – as belonging to Russia. Absolutely,” said President Zelenskyy.

Path Forward and Possible Scenarios

The way ahead is uncertain how the two sides will proceed on the land question. The Ukrainian leader has previously suggested that a negotiated arrangement such as a special economic area might be theoretically possible if the citizens of Ukraine approved it in a national vote. The critical stumbling block is expected to arise when the proposals are presented to Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has shown no indication he is prepared to concede on his military objectives.

“If Putin rejects everything, we will face exactly what we are encountering on our plane right now – instability,” said Zelenskyy, recording the comments as his aircraft departed from Berlin.

“I believe the United States will increase sanction pressure and supply more weapons if he rejects everything. In my view, that would be a fair request from Ukraine to the United States,” he concluded.