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Shkruar nga PamfletiThe European counteroffer was drafted before Donald Trump's controversial 28-point plan was made public.
Ukraine and its European allies sat down at the negotiating table in Geneva today to present their counterproposal to the United States, stressing that talks with Russia on any territorial deal can only begin after hostilities along the current line of contact cease, according to people familiar with the process.
As Bloomberg reports, the response to the 28-point US plan includes Kiev's demand for a strong US security guarantee equivalent to NATO's Article 5, as well as a demand that "frozen" Russian assets be used to rebuild Ukraine and cover the damage caused by the war.
The Ukrainian and European sides completely reject Moscow's demands for the relinquishment of territories that have not been occupied.
According to officials, the United States would be compensated for the strong guarantees it provided, while Russian assets would remain frozen until Russia agreed to pay for the damage it caused. In addition, other sanctions would be gradually lifted and Russia would gradually return to the international economy as long as it faithfully adhered to the agreement.
Under the terms of the original 28-point American proposal, Ukraine would have to withdraw forces from parts of Donbas that Russia has not fully occupied, creating a neutral demilitarized zone that would be internationally recognized as Russian. At the same time, Moscow would gain de facto recognition of its sovereignty over Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk, while most of the existing front line, including areas in Kherson and Zaporizhia, would be "set aside" as is.
The US plan, which was drawn up with Russian participation, the sources said, also envisages limiting the Ukrainian army to 600,000 troops from the current 850,000. European leaders, along with Canada and Japan, rejected the idea that Ukraine's borders could be reduced or that the country's armed forces should be limited, in a joint statement on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa.
Sources said a higher limit could be negotiated, with Kiev already saying it needs an army of at least 800,000 troops in peacetime.
Many of the other provisions proposed by the US, such as the return of all hostages including children, are seen as acceptable by the Ukrainian side. The final plan would also have to include a family reunification program and provisions for war victims, the sources said.
Any agreement would be overseen by the United States and guaranteed by a special peace council headed by Donald Trump.
The return of all Ukrainian children is a key condition for any agreement, says Von der Leyen.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the number of members of the Ukrainian armed forces not to be reduced, for Ukraine's borders not to be changed, and for the Commission to retain the right to manage funds for Ukraine's reconstruction, as reported in a statement issued by her press service.
“First, borders cannot be changed by force. Second, there can be no restrictions on armed forces. Third, the EU’s supposed central role in ensuring peace in Ukraine must be reflected in the document, along with its role in the reconstruction of the country. According to the plan previously announced by the European Commission, it is said to aim to expropriate Russian assets for the sake of “resettlement of Ukraine,” says Von der Leyen.
At the same time, in her new post, Von der Leyen demands, in addition to the above, that any agreement include the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
"We will not rest until all these children are reunited with their families, in their homes," the EC president emphasizes.
The European counteroffer was drafted before Donald Trump's controversial 28-point plan was made public.
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