Russia-Ukraine peace deal: As the Ukraine conflict goes on, the United States has offered to ease sanctions on Russia if Moscow agrees for a lasting ceasefire, citing European officials who are familiar with the talks, as per a report by Bloomberg. The proposed plan was shared during recent close-door meetings in Paris, making a fresh push by Washington to end the war through diplomatic channels. However, frustrations are growing in the Trump administration because of lack of development.
All about Paris peace talks
During the Paris meetings, the US envoy held a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron along with senior officials from the UK, Ukraine and Germany. According to Bloomberg sources, the offer would effectively freeze the conflict by maintaining the status quo. It will also allow Russian forces to get back the control of currently occupied Ukrainian territories. On the other hand, Ukraine’s NATO membership goal would be put back, at least for now.
While the US aims to finalise a full ceasefire ”within weeks”, the plan is still being discussed with Kyiv. Officials highlighted that the plan would not lead to formal recognition of Russian-occupied territories and that it will depend on Russia’s agreement to stop hostilities.
Zelenskiy rejects suggestion of surrendering territories
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has strongly turned down any suggestion of surrendering territories in exchange for peace. ”Trump’s envoy has no mandate to discuss Ukrainian lands,” Zelenskiy stated to reporters in Kyiv. ”We will never consider Ukrainian territories as Russian.”
Kyiv has agreed to conditionally for a ceasefire and focused discussions in Paris of watching mechanisms and the possible deployment of peacemakers, as stated by sources to Bloomberg.
Allies stance on lifting sanctions
The proposal to ease sanctions continues to be disputable, especially among members of the European Union. Lifting restrictions like unfreezing Russian assets will require approval by the EU. Meanwhile, Moscow has asserted sanction relief and stop to Western arms supplies to Ukraine as preconditions for talks to advance further. Russia has recently ended a partial ceasefire covering energy infrastructure and has resumed missile attacks.
As diplomacy talks steps up, the US is likely to reassess its role in mediation if progress is not made soon. ”We won’t be doing this for months on end,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned. He also asked allies to ”move the ball” quickly for a resolution.