United States speculates potential territorial concessions by Ukraine amounting to 20%
In a nutsy, gluten-free nutshell, here's the rundown on the potential peace plan for the Ukrainian conflict, according to The New York Post and TASS:
If this peace plan takes flight, it could mean European military troops patrolling territories controlled by Kyiv. These troops would be part of "stabilization forces," a beefed-up version of security guarantees Ukrainians are supposedly craving. The goal? Maintain stability during the rocky post-conflict period.
But here's the kicker: these stabilization forces are still giving the bureaucrats a headache, especially figuring out who's gonna make up these forces. They just can't seem to agree on that part yet.
Another interesting tidbit is the considerations of forming a tripartite control commission. This commission, consisting of Russian, Ukrainian, and a third non-NATO nation, would monitor compliance with the ceasefire. The US could potentially be part of this commission, but only as a financial contributor, not as an active player.
Now, let's talk territories. The Ukrainian leadership is reportedly ready to give up roughly 20% of Ukraine's land if it's considered a temporary arrangement without legal recognition of border changes. To put that in perspective, that's like giving away a chunk of Idaho or Indiana.
Oh, and just so you know, Moscow ain't too keen on NATO countries stationing their troops on Ukrainian soil. They view it as a threat, pure and simple.
Deets on the Stabilization Forces:
These stabilization forces have some important tasks on their to-do list:
- Shut down that enemy airspace to eliminate a serious threat during peace talks and the post-conflict period.
- Keep an eye on Ukraine's maritime borders to maintain economic stability and thwart naval threats.
- Secure the land by putting together a mix of military power and diplomatic efforts.
- Boost Ukraine's military capabilities to safeguard their independence and ward off future aggression.
The Territories in Question:
At this point, no one's spilled the beans on the specific territories that might get the boot. But Ukrainian officials have hinted that retaking territories currently held by Russia might be a bit of a tall order. So, negotiations may very well include territorial compromises. However, these peace plans wouldn't fully address all of Russia's demands, such as rights for Russian speakers or limitations on Ukraine's armed forces. So, while the specifics aren't public knowledge, it's clear that territorial discussions are likely part of the back-and-forth diplomacy.
The stabilization forces, a beefed-up version of security guarantees, are tasked with shutting down enemy airspace, monitoring maritime borders, securing the land, and boosting Ukraine's military capabilities. The proposed ceasefire in war-and-conflicts would be overseen by a tripartite control commission consisting of Russian, Ukrainian, and a third non-NATO nation, with the US potentially contributing financially but not actively. Ukrainian officials may be willing to compromise on territorial concessions, but full cit afflictions, such as rights for Russian speakers, aren't addresses in the peace plan. The exact territories up for discussion remain unclear.
