After talks in Geneva on President Donald Trump’s“28-point plan” to end the Russian-ukrainian conflict, the two sides issued a joint statement confirming that, the talks have drawn up a“Refined peace framework”, but the statement did not release details. On the 24th, a senior Ukrainian official announced that the US and Uzbekistan had drastically reduced the“28-point plan” to a“19-point peace plan.” Some key and more controversial issues, such as territory and security assurances to Ukraine, will be left for the presidents of the two countries to decide. Unlike the 28-point plan, which provoked anger and frustration in Ukraine and the EU, the new 19-point plan is a far cry from the original, to the satisfaction of Ukraine and Europe. “This is the decisive result we have achieved,” enthused Germany’s foreign minister. However, senior Russian officials have repeatedly said“No” to the new plan. Ushatkov, an aide to the Russian president, said the European plan was“Not constructive and does not apply”. Russian presidential press secretary Peskov said on the 25th that the“Putative peace plan” between the US and Ukraine was full of contradictory information and was a“Carnival of information disorder”. Russian foreign minister Lavroff stressed the same day, the European failure to seize the opportunity to contribute to the mediation of the Russian-ukrainian conflict, “Now you have missed the opportunity.”.
Smoke rose over the Ukrainian capital Kiev Tuesday after it was hit again by Russian missiles and drones. (visual China)
From“28” to“19”
President Zelenskiy confirmed Friday evening in a video address that the peace plan had been scaled back from the original 28 points after talks between the and Ukraine in Geneva, the Kiev Independent reported Tuesday. He said the revised version was more in line with Ukraine’s position and that“Many of the right elements have been incorporated into this peace framework”. Zelenskiy did not elaborate on the changes. He said he would discuss“Sensitive issues” directly with Donald Trump in the future.
Zelenskiy posted on social media early yesterday that“Communication with the United States continues and I am grateful for the efforts of the United States, especially the personal efforts of President Donald Trump”.
The US and Ukraine have reached a new 19-point peace plan, the Financial Times reported. He said the meeting had been an“Intense” but“Productive” consultation that had resulted in a thoroughly revised draft document that both sides were“Satisfied” with, but some of the most critical and contentious issues, including territorial issues and Ukraine’s NATO membership, will be left to the presidents of both sides. Kislitzia said there were few similarities between the new draft and earlier versions that had caused a furore, with“Almost nothing of the original content”. He also praised the senior US officials who took part in the talks as“Attentive and serious, willing to listen to Ukraine’s position and accept suggestions” and“Almost all of our suggestions have been taken into account”.
“The Ukrainian peace plan has been significantly scaled back,” Umerov, a Ukrainian negotiator and secretary of the National Defense Commission, was quoted as saying by the New York Times, “While the new version is subject to final approval, it reflects most of Ukraine’s key priorities”. U. S. Bloomberg quoted officials as saying that the two sides did not rule out the possibility of Ukraine’s NATO membership.
However, the U. S. side did not respond specifically to the media reports and the news announced by Uzbekistan. White House Press Secretary Levitt said at a press conference on the 24th, Donald Trump and Zelenskiy this week no meeting arrangements. Levitt rejected Ukrainian and European claims that the 28-point peace plan was“Biased in favour of Russia”, saying Donald Trump had been in direct talks with Ukrainian and Russian leaders for the past 10 months, has been putting pressure on both Russia and Ukraine, the United States in order to promote a peace agreement without equal treatment of both Russia and Ukraine’s claim is“Completely nonsense.”.
Europe: from anger to excitement
Instead of the anger and frustration that greeted the revelation of Donald Trump’s 28-point peace plan, there was a sigh of relief and even some excitement among some politicians.
“The country has survived another crisis brought on by Donald Trump,” said the economist, describing it as perhaps one of the darkest moments in its history, with the front lines crumbling; Domestic anger over the corruption scandal boiled over and the US issued an ultimatum to Ukraine to agree to a peace plan“Biased” towards Russia. But now, “The dawn is coming”.
As for the new us-uganda peace plan, Minister for Foreign Affairs Wade Fur said on the 24th that all issues related to Europe and NATO had been removed from the original peace plan. “This is the decisive result we have achieved,” he said. He also said the EU and Ukraine must be involved in any peace agreement. Merz, the German chancellor, also said it was“Vital for us that the Ukrainian peace plan can not be established without our agreement on issues of European interest and European sovereignty”.
French president Nicolas Maqueron said in a video address on Thursday that the US peace plan was“Moving in the right direction” but that there was still room for improvement. He also accused Russia of being“The only obstacle to peace in Ukraine”. “For three years, our only red line has been Russia. We want peace in Ukraine, but not the kind that amounts to surrender.”.
El Pais said Zelenskiy had resisted pressure from Donald Trump and saved another match point. However, reports said that judging from the negotiation process, Zelenskiy has been put on the defensive, only to struggle at the last minute. Donald Trump sees himself as a peace broker between Russia and Ukraine, and his strategy is to keep the weak in check until they finally give in. On the day of the Geneva talks, Donald Trump took to social media to accuse Zelenskiy of being“Ungrateful for our efforts while the Europeans continue to buy Russian oil”. Reported that the final plan on the Ukrainian peace plan will be decided in the next few days, a new game is about to start.
A few hours after Donald Trump complained that Ukraine was“Ungrateful”, “Ukraine thanks the United States, thanks every American, and especially thanks President Donald Trump for his assistance, which has saved Ukrainian lives,” Zelenskiy CNN on social media, zelenskiy has thanked the US or Donald Trump 78 times since the conflict began.
Secret U. s.-russia meeting in UAE?
For the west in recent days came out of the“28-point” or“19-point peace plan”, Russia seems very calm.
Ushatkov, an aide to the Russian president, said yesterday that Moscow had been briefed on the Ukrainian and European“Peace plan” and that its initial assessment was that it was“Completely unconstructive and inapplicable to Russia”. He stressed that there is a lot of speculation on the peace plan, Russia only trusts the official information directly from the United States side.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavroff said at a press conference on the 25th that up to now, Russia has not yet received the formal peace plan proposed by the US side, but Russia is willing to discuss the specific contents with the US side after formally receiving the plan, “Russia values the US position because the US is the only major western country that has shown a willingness to seek a solution to the Ukraine issue,” he said.
Lavroff also flatly rejected the role of France, Germany and other European countries as mediators in the Ukraine-russia conflict. “Every time there is progress [ in the Russia-ukraine talks ] , the deal is broken. Now our European counterparts are saying openly that we can not solve the problem without Europe, and Europe has failed to live up to even one treaty since 2014,” Lavroff said, “You Had Your Chance and you didn’t take it, and now you’ve missed it.”
“The chaos caused by the US peace plan is an ideal situation for Putin,” the Guardian said Tuesday, adding that the US, Ukraine and Europe had been thrown into chaos over the past two days, and the Kremlin has done almost nothing. It doesn’t need to do anything, because the negotiating table is tilting towards Russia. Reported that the U. S. and Ukraine reached a new“19-point peace plan”, Russia will almost certainly reject. Reported that if diplomatic efforts to deadlock, Russia will maintain“The current military pressure”, Ukraine’s situation will deteriorate over time, “The ball in the Ukrainian side.
“Russia Today” television said 25, nearly a month, the rhythm of the Russia-ukraine conflict has changed dramatically. The Russian army is now advancing in seven main directions and attacking 8 key Ukrainian cities. The Russian military has not launched such a large-scale offensive in recent years, except in the first month of special operations. Reported that the rapid progress of the Russian army on the battlefield, the Ukrainian army’s position, and brought a decisive shift in the war.
U.S. Army Secretary Driscoll held a secret meeting with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, CNN reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials. Reported that the two sides discussed the end of the Russian-ukrainian conflict on the plan to meet in order to lay the foundation for future contacts at a higher level. The U.S. “Politico News” said that this was the highest-ranking U.S. military leader’s meeting with the Russian side so far, the meeting is likely to be Driscoll’s most challenging stop after nearly a week in Kiev and Geneva.