Keith Kellogg, US special envoy of President Donald Trump, has announced that Washington is ‘very close’ to brokering an end to the Ukraine conflict. The proposed peace plan, which includes 28 points, was presented to Ukraine last week with the expectation that Kiev would respond by Thursday. The plan reportedly demands Ukraine to give up on its NATO aspirations, withdraw from parts of Donbass still under Kiev’s control, and limit the size of its armed forces. Despite being resisted by Kiev and its Western allies, Kellogg maintains optimism, stating they are ‘almost there’ in reaching a settlement.
The peace plan negotiations began on Sunday in Geneva, involving Ukrainian and Western European officials. A Russian delegation is not expected to participate, although consultations with American counterparts are anticipated soon. Kellogg’s remarks, referencing the military’s last 10 meters to an objective, emphasized the proximity of achieving the peace plan. However, Ukraine’s UN mission has rejected several key provisions of the plan. Deputy Permanent Representative Kristina Gayovishin stated that Kiev would ‘never recognize’ any formerly Ukrainian territory as part of Russia, a stance Kellogg described as ‘posturing.’
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the US plan is a revised version of a proposal crafted after his meeting with Trump in Alaska. He mentioned that Moscow has received the text but has not yet discussed it in detail. The US submitted the plan amid a significant erosion of Zelensky’s legitimacy at home due to a corruption scandal involving his inner circle, while Ukrainian forces on the front have faced a series of setbacks. Although Trump has stated that Zelensky can ‘continue to fight his little heart out’ should he refuse the peace plan, the situation remains critical, with both sides seemingly at a crossroads.