Ending the Russian-Ukrainian war in June: Details of Washington's proposal
In a significant development that could alter the course of the conflict in Eastern Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed intensive US efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian war by next June. These statements come as Washington intensifies its diplomatic efforts to bring the two sides to the negotiating table, with an invitation extended for a crucial round of talks next week in the United States, likely to be hosted by Miami.
The context of the conflict and its global effects
These diplomatic moves are of paramount importance given the historical context of the conflict, which erupted with a large-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, triggering the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, as well as having enormous economic repercussions on global energy and food markets. After nearly four years of brutal fighting and a stalemate on the battlefronts, the international community, led by the United States, appears to be seeking a political solution to stem the bloodshed and material losses on both sides.
Obstacles to negotiation: the Donetsk knot and the occupied territories
Zelensky explained that the path to peace remains fraught with obstacles, most notably Moscow's demand for full control of the eastern Donetsk region as a precondition for any agreement, which would entail the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from their current positions. Kyiv, for its part, rejects these conditions outright, demanding strict security guarantees to prevent a future invasion. Previous rounds of negotiations held in Abu Dhabi under US auspices achieved progress on humanitarian issues such as prisoner exchanges, but reached an impasse regarding territorial sovereignty.
The "Free Economic Zone" proposal and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia power station
In an attempt to break the deadlock, Washington proposed the creation of a "free economic zone" in parts of Donetsk, demilitarized and free of military presence from both sides. While Zelensky expressed cautious openness, he stipulated that fair and reliable rules must govern this zone. Meanwhile, the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, remains a major point of contention, as no agreement has been reached on its management or the withdrawal of Russian forces, leaving security and environmental concerns unresolved.
The Ukrainian president concluded his remarks by emphasizing that any agreement the United States makes with Russia will not be binding on his country unless Kyiv is a key party to it, stressing the need for any proposed solutions to be consistent with the Ukrainian constitution and laws, in a clear indication of his refusal to compromise national sovereignty.
