Ukraine’s Zelenskiy perceives an opportunity for U.S. mediation lasting until the summer of 2027
Ukraine perceives a chance for U.S. mediation to resolve the conflict with Russia by the end of next summer and has prepared a one-page proposal in collaboration with U.S. and European officials to present to Moscow, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy stated that a ceasefire and a previously discussed U.S. proposal for a free economic zone in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas area, to be managed by a third party, were included among the ideas in the document. “It includes one of the proposals for a ceasefire—that is the key point. The second part pertains to the proposals made by the Americans concerning a free economic zone,” Zelenskiy informed reporters during a briefing over the weekend.
The Kremlin raises concerns about the concept of a free economic zone.
The Kremlin on Tuesday raised doubts about the practicality of the U.S. proposal to establish a free economic zone in Donbas, asserting that the territory is officially part of Russia and that it is improbable for a third party to oversee it.
Russia has asserted ownership over four Ukrainian regions, even though it does not have complete control over them. Moscow has consistently stated that any resolution must include Ukraine completely relinquishing the four regions, along with addressing the “root causes” of the conflict.
Zelenskiy stated that he perceives an opportunity to conclude the nearly four-and-a-half years of conflict, which has extended from the G20 summit in the U.S. this December until the end of summer 2027, particularly in light of the upcoming campaign for the 2028 presidential election in the U.S. Earlier this month, Zelenskiy mentioned that Ukraine had submitted proposals to U.S. negotiators for a plan to end the war, though he did not elaborate further.
Peace talks led by the U.S. collapsed earlier this year when Ukraine declined to meet Russian demands for additional territorial concessions, while Washington’s focus shifted more toward the conflict with Iran.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner last visited Moscow in January and have yet to make a trip to Kyiv.
Proposals focus on the role of the EU and NATO.
Zelensky stated that the third component in the draft proposal pertained to the involvement of the European Union and NATO, as well as what “Ukraine is prepared to do to achieve this. He refrained from providing additional details.
The three ideas I have mentioned are not solely Ukrainian concepts,” Zelenskiy stated, noting that they were developed collaboratively with American and European partners, with some arising from earlier discussions between U.S. negotiators and both Ukraine and Russia.
Russia expressed a willingness to consider new proposals for resolving the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing that these should take into account the “realities on the ground,” according to a senior Russian diplomat in an interview published last week.
Moscow’s primary goal is to seize the rest of Donbas, where it has been striving to penetrate Ukraine’s so-called fortress belt of eastern cities.
