Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine appear to have entered a new phase.
This can be said at least on the basis of recent news circulated by developments there, with the United States making another effort to broker an agreement between Kiev and Moscow.
However, Russia’s demands and other contentious issues between the parties continue to remain the main obstacles.
NATO membership issue
In this regard, we need to remember a recent development involving an American request in the direction of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky has indicated that Washington has for the first time suggested that Ukraine give up Donbas in exchange for NATO membership.
According to him, this issue has been raised during discussions on a possible solution to the conflict.
Zelensky has stressed that he cannot make such a decision alone and that any agreement affecting the country’s territory should have Ukrainian approval.
The Americans raised the question: What if Ukraine joins NATO? Would Ukraine withdraw from Donbas? ) This was the first time such a case was laid out, Zelensky told reporters Friday.
Zelensky added that Ukraine is discussing specific security loans from NATO and the European Union, and that it would ask Ukrainians if they accept these conditions, if Western countries confirm them.
I have no right to make that decision myself, he stressed.
Other requirements and Russia’s ʹopherta
But the proposals, which have been submitted by Russian negotiators in Abu Dhabi, go far beyond territorial demands on Ukraine.
Russia also wants Ukraine to remain forever outside NATO, while not allowing the Alliance’s military bases to be established in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
And the reported requests include the return of Finland to its pre-NATO membership status.
These proposals are aimed at creating a new European security order, according to reports.
In exchange for its demands, Moscow has offered to withdraw nuclear weapons from Belarus and give up the deployment of medium-range missiles to the state.
However, these requirements have been reported by Bild and do not constitute a officially confirmed agreement on the parties.
European Involvement
At the meeting held in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kouchner were also discussed the possibility of direct involvement of European countries in future negotiations.
Putin has declared that he is not against dialogue with Europe, but has warned that the deployment of foreign troops to Ukraine after a peace agreement would be considered a threat from Russia and could lead to the resumption of war.
Otherwise, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have insisted that the continent cannot accept that the future of its security architecture be decided without the participation of European countries.
Macron has stressed that Europeans will be the ones to decide for their future security, while Zelensky has demanded that European representatives be part of the negotiating team and not only separate participants.
On the other hand, Russia continues to oppose Ukraine’s membership in NATO and requires a broader reshuffle of security in Europe, aimed at limiting the Alliance’s military presence to the east of the continent.
This is one of the main reasons for disagreements with Western countries, which oppose Moscow having the right to dictate security agreements of other states.
A deal almost with results
On a matter, however, there seems to be hope that an agreement will soon be reached.
It’s a principle agreement about a large exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelensky has named it the largest exchange of its kind since the beginning of the war, considering a concrete result of negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
War continues and a peace deal seems far away
However, despite diplomatic efforts, fighting and attacks continue.
During the days of negotiations in Abu Dhabi, Russia has hit several Ukraine’s regions and energy infrastructure, causing power cuts.
At the same time, Ukraine has intensified attacks on oil refinerys and other strategic facilities on Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Secretary General NATO, Mark Rutte, has declared that Russia is undergoing enormous losses on the war front, claiming that the number of Russian soldiers killed or seriously injured totals more than 400,000 a month.
He has also accused Moscow of continuing attacks on Ukrainian critical cities and infrastructure, especially before the winter.
Despite diplomacy intensifying, a peace deal remains far apart.
The issue of territories, Ukraine’s future status towards NATO, security guarantees and Russia’s demands for a new European security order are the main obstacles.
Future meetings are expected to show whether the parties are willing to make necessary compromises or whether war will continue without a clear prospect for its outcome. /Telegraph/