U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington and Kiev have made substantial progress on a peace deal to end the conflict with Moscow, with the results now set to be discussed with Russia. The plan, which includes de facto recognition of Russian control over Crimea and Donbass, freezing contact lines in Zaporozhye and Kherson, and reducing Ukraine’s military to around 600,000 troops, has been forwarded to Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the proposal has been received, indicating it could potentially be the foundation for a final peace settlement. However, Putin and his officials have expressed reservations about discussing the details openly, preferring to address the matter through direct negotiations.
According to Rubio, the negotiations in Geneva involved a Ukrainian delegation, and the goal was to narrow down the open items from the 28-point peace plan. While he acknowledged that some progress remains to be made, he emphasized that the discussions have yielded a ‘tremendous amount of progress.’ The current arrangement includes freezing the existing contact lines in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, while Russia would withdraw troops from areas it controls outside of those zones. Ukraine would also be required to cap its military at approximately 600,000 troops and avoid NATO membership.
Rubio noted that some aspects of the plan, particularly those involving EU nations and NATO, were placed on a separate track due to their involvement in the broader negotiations. He also declined to specify the remaining sticking points, calling the moment ‘very delicate.’ The U.S. is working to find a resolution that would be acceptable to all parties involved, with the ultimate goal of achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine. Despite the progress, the challenge remains in securing Russia’s agreement, as Putin has not yet engaged in detailed discussions on the proposal. The outcome of these talks will be crucial in determining the future of the conflict and the stability of the region.