America’s Donald Trump has said he will end the war in 24 hours and in just a month he will take office as president. Trump’s election victory has been met with both concern and optimism from Ukraine and its partners.
Trump has made it clear that he wants to use US military support as a means to force the Ukrainians to the negotiating table. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Trump in Paris this weekend, has described Trump in positive terms as strong and determined.
Sources state for Reuters that Zelenskyi sees Trump as the only one Vladimir Putin fears, besides China, and a force that could guarantee that a future peace will not be broken. This is central to the Ukrainians – who want to be sure that Russia does not attack again after a deal is struck.
Ukrainian position softer
The Ukrainian government has long said that no talks with Russia are possible as long as Russian soldiers are in Ukraine. But that has changed.
Zelenskyi has opened for a ceasefire without Ukraine controlling all of its territory. In exchange, he wants all of Ukraine, including the occupied territories, to be invited to NATO, but for the Article 5 umbrella to cover only the territories currently controlled by the Ukrainians. Other areas could be reclaimed by diplomatic means in the future.
In parallel, talks are ongoing in Europe, driven by France, about the possibility of stationing peacekeeping troops in Ukraine after a future peace agreement. This is stated by sources for several media. No decision has been taken, but the information states that the discussions are aimed at being prepared if such a measure should become relevant.
Russian position unchanged
The talks take place at the same time that President-elect Trump still has not said how he thinks peace should be achieved. He appears to be considering several different solutions, including a front line freeze.
But Russia’s position has not been shaken. The country has not yet received any satisfactory peace proposal from Trump, says Maria Zacharova at the Russian Foreign Ministry, according to Reuters.
Anyone who thinks Russia will compromise on Ukraine has “a short memory,” she said on Wednesday, adding that implementing Putin’s list of demands is what can bring peace.