Ukraine, Kallas downplays Russian-US peace plan. But shortly afterwards Zelensky confirms: “We are working on it”
Media rumours about a 28-point draft suddenly became real, shortly after the end of the Foreign Affairs Council of the Twenty-Seven. The High Representative had just claimed that "Brussels must be present at the negotiating table"
Brussels – The EU is not keen on being sidelined by the United States and Russia over negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. This is the message that the head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, had just finished addressing to his star and stripes ally, the day after the publication in the international media of a vague peace plan draft, which would be discussed bilaterally between Washington and Moscow. Only to be sensationally taken aback by Kyiv, which announced that it was in possession of the document and wanted to work on it with the White House.
“For any plan to succeed, it must be supported by Ukraine and Europe,” she told the press at the end of today’s Foreign Affairs Council (20 November). The High Representative emphasised that “our approach is focused” on new restrictive measures, in particular against the shadow fleet by which the Kremlin circumvents sanctions and exports its crude oil abroad.
According to yesterday’s reports, a 28-point peace plan was agreed in principle between two heavyweights of the US and Russian administrations: Steve Witkoff, the super-special envoy tasked by Donald Trump with solving all the world’s wars, from Ukraine to Iran via Gaza, and Kirill Dmitriev, an influential Kremlin advisor.
The details remain unclear, but some elements have emerged suggesting a relatively advantageous solution for Moscow. For example, there is mention of crucial territorial concessions by Kyiv. As a quid pro quo for stopping the aggression, the invader would get the entire area of the Donbass (the two oblasts of Doneck and Luhansk, rich in critical minerals and already almost completely in Russian hands), would retain control of the Crimea Peninsula and withdraw from the other two regions annexed by a sham referendum in September 2022, namely Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
No comments:
Post a Comment