Leaders Zelensky and European counterparts Journey to the U.S. to discuss terms for a potential peace treaty
In a significant development, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, aiming to find a resolution to the ongoing war with Russia. This meeting follows a series of diplomatic engagements, including a summit between Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which failed to yield a ceasefire breakthrough.
The core proposed security guarantee for Ukraine is that the U.S. would provide strong, long-term security guarantees to help ensure any peace deal with Russia endures. Trump mentioned that European countries would form the first line of defense for Ukraine, with the U.S. also involved, offering "very good protection" and "very good security"[1][3]. Ukrainian officials emphasized that these guarantees must be concrete, legally binding, and multidimensional—covering military, diplomatic, legal, and other areas[3].
Regarding the potential agreement on the Donetsk region, reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have softened his territorial demands to focus mainly on Donetsk rather than the four regions he previously sought[2]. This implies a possible deal where Ukraine might cede control of some unoccupied parts of Donetsk. Ceding territory would be unprecedented and sensitive, given that Ukraine currently controls about 25% of that region[2].
The impact of this possible agreement on the ongoing war is complex. Such territorial concessions could potentially facilitate a peace deal by addressing some demands Putin has put forward, which might reduce fighting. However, ceding territory is controversial within Ukraine and could affect the morale and sovereignty perceptions. Furthermore, Putin has shown reluctance to engage fully in peace talks with Zelensky[2][4].
European countries are meanwhile preparing joint security arrangements involving British and French forces, and 10 countries in total might send troops to Ukraine to back a peace deal[4]. The exact level and nature of U.S. support remains unspecified but is expected to be significant given Trump's remarks.
It is important to note that Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and four Ukrainian regions - Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, and Zaporizhzhia - in 2022, despite not fully capturing them. Russia has until now insisted that Ukraine pull its forces out of all four regions as a precondition to any deal[5].
This is Zelensky's first visit to Washington since a bust-up with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in February. Along with Trump, Zelensky is accompanied by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and other leaders during the meeting. Along with von der Leyen, NATO chief Mark Rutte, the leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Germany, and Italy will be present[2].
Sources:
- Reuters
- BBC News
- The Washington Post
- The Guardian
- CNN
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