FLASH
Shkruar nga Mark Stone
When news of this 28-point peace plan began to emerge two days ago, I spoke to several sources within European governments. It was immediately clear that they were behind it.
One source described it as a “maneuver,” saying the plan essentially read as an evolution of Russian efforts to play the U.S. government. Since then, there has been a frantic effort by European leaders to formulate a united response to what appears to be an unofficial Russian-American plan.
-The two men leading the talks
It is worth remembering that the two men at the heart of this document, American Steve Witkoff and Russian Kirill Dmitriev, are not diplomats.
They are the unexpected yin and yang of the current US-Russia power struggle: Witkoff, the real estate tycoon, and Dmitriev, the economist, both trusted by their leaders, now forcefully impose the post-Cold War order.
The prevailing theory is that Russian envoy Dmitriev released this 28-point plan two days ago to get ahead of the negotiations that will now follow; to present their position first. It is likely that the Americans knew it would be revealed.
It's in keeping with President Trump's "art of the deal" style, to present a strange idea to make whatever comes out in the end seem reasonable. He did the same with Gaza. It's Trump dealmaking 101.
-Zelensky's double-speak
It is notable that President Zelensky's response to this 28-point plan has been measured, despite the fact that it represents (in its current form) an almost total capitulation.
It was a similar surrender plan that caused a ruckus in Zelensky’s Oval Office in February. He knows now that he shouldn’t upset the American president. So his response seemed to me full of diplomatic doublespeak. It was carefully crafted so as not to be seen as a rejection. The Ukrainian representative to the United Nations was clearer.
" While Ukraine is ready to engage in meaningful negotiations to end this war, including at the leadership level, our red lines are clear and unwavering. There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of the Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale ," said Ukraine's deputy ambassador to the UN, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn.
-Amateur draft
The text of the plan appears amateurish in its drafting. It is full of major ambiguities, is open to dizzying interpretations, and fundamentally undermines the efforts of the European-based "coalition of the willing."
Also, besides being unacceptable in many ways for Ukraine, it is certainly unacceptable in many ways for Vladimir Putin as well. Take, for example, the clause that says Russia's frozen assets go to Ukraine (with an American bribe akin to theft). Really?
There are also elements of the plan that would necessarily require approval from a much wider range of parties. For example, readmitting Russia to what would become the G8 would require the approval of all other G7 members.
At the heart of the peace plan is Vladimir Putin's word and Donald Trump's credibility. It is written on an arm and a prayer./ SkyNews
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