Ukrainian and Europe Oficials on Sunday, launched a Diplomatic Offensive aimed at Reshaping a 28-point Peace Plan that has been Criticized as too Favorable to Russia. Sunday’s talks had been “probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far in this entire process since we have been involved,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) said in Geneva.
He said that they had gone through the U.S. Proposal Point-by-point. Officials were “making some changes, some adjustments in the hopes of further narrowing the differences and getting closer to something that both Ukraine and obviously the United States are very comfortable with,” He said.
Andriy Yermak, Head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Office, said Talks would continue in coming days to Refine and Aalign Proposals in Consultation with European Officials. Yermak and Rubio said Trump (R) and the Ukrainian President would need to Sign-Off on any Cchanges. Zelensky thanked Trump for His Efforts, a short time after Trump posted on Social Media, but He suggested further Work needed to be done to Ssettle on a Final Agreement.
“It’s important to not forget the main goal—to stop the Russian war and prevent it from breaking out again in the future,” Zelensky wrote on Social Media. “That’s why we’re so carefully working on every point, on every step toward peace.” Trump had given Ukraine a Thursday Deadline to respond to the Proposal, which would require that Kyiv cede Territory to Russia, Block its Ambitions to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Cap the Size of its Military amid other Major Eeconomic and Political Concessions to Moscow. Ukraine has said the Pplan needs major Adjustments with European Input.
The Challenge for Kyiv has been to remain Conciliatory toward Trump, while Charting a Course for further Talks that could Extract Concessions from the Russian side. Endorsing a Version of the U.S. Plan, that is Stacked more in its Favor would put Pressure back on Moscow to yield on Key Points.
But weighting the Deal more toward Ukraine is likely to make any Peace Settlement more Elusive. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the U.S. Plan could form the Basis for a Peace Settlement, but Key Points would need to be Amended.
Rubio on Sunday, said the U.S. side had a Good understanding of Russia’s Demands. But while Moscow sees too few Concessions from Ukraine in the Proposed Text, Kyiv says that in its Current Format it would leave Ukraine Defenseless against a Future Attack.
Zelensky has Rallied European Allies behind Ukraine’s push to Adjust Key Clauses of the Proposal. European Officials have said their Clear Preference is to work with the American side to Change the Plan while Publicly Upholding it as a Solid Foundation for a possible Deal. They said they are Principally at the Talks to Help and support Zelensky, and Back Him where He seeks Changes to the 28-point Plan.
In a Statement on the Sidelines of the Group of 20 Meeting in South Africa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set out Three Principles European Governments believe a Deal should Rest on. First, that Borders Can’t be Changed by Force. Second, that there must Not be Limitations on Ukraine’s Armed Forces. And Third, that the European Union’s Role and Interests should be Reflected.
That includes an Understanding that Third Parties can’t Decide the Fate of the Bloc’s own Sanctions and can’t, as the 28-Point Plan seeks to, decide on Ukraine’s integration into the EU’s Internal Market.
European Officials said the Three European Countries in Geneva had taken a Document with Specific Changes they would like to see in the U.S. Text. They include Proposing that Negotiations take place after a Ceasefire along Current Lines and Capping the Ukrainian Military at 800,000 Troops versus the 600,000 in the U.S. Proposal. Also, Ukraine must Commit Not to Regain its Occupied Territory by Force.
The Document also addresses Key European Interests, including the need to use Immobilized Russian Central Bank Assets held in Europe to support Ukraine and its Recovery. Most of the $300 billion in Russian Sovereign Assets trapped in Western Countries, in the First Days of the War sit in Europe and are under EU or U.K. Sanctions.
It also Demands that Ukrainian Children that Kyiv says were Forcibly Transferred by Russia are Returned to Ukraine.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment