NATO is effectively preparing to block Ukraine’s bid to join the bloc without making Kyiv formally renounce the decision, as it remains one of the core conditions for the ceasefire.
Intensive back-and-forth negotiations between Ukrainian officials and a high-level US delegation are going on behind closed doors. Zelenskyy is seeking more guarantees from the United States, while Russia remains committed to annexing both Crimea and Donbas into the Russian Federation.
Zelenskyy met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, where he discussed the choices presented in the alleged peace proposal by the United States. Macron, in response, assured that his country would provide all required assistance in the future, including the security guarantees agreed under the new peace deal.
Meanwhile, Moscow has constantly said that to settle the conflict, Ukraine must abandon its aspirations of joining NATO in the future. The 28-page draft document contains 19 points, which, according to US mediators, would bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The draft proposal also requires Ukraine to reduce its military forces to 600,000. After Kyiv rejected these demands last week, Russian President Putin warned, “The war will continue, and Russia will take everything by force.”
Ukraine will not be allowed to join the bloc, in the legal sense, a source familiar with the development confirmed. He added that the US or NATO states could address Russia’s demands through bilateral or multilateral understandings without involving Kyiv. According to some more inside sources, Washington is ready to agree to almost all demands of Moscow to settle the conflict, including ceding land, capping armed forces, abandoning the NATO bid, and declaring Russian as an official language, but the real issue, they believe, comes from Ukraine and its backers in the West.
Following Sunday’s talks, Rubio said progress had been made but stressed that “more work” would be required, noting that Russia must be “part of the equation” for any agreement. Further, a US peace delegation is likely to arrive in Russia this week to discuss the peace proposal with Moscow.
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