Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a set of peace proposals aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine could be completed within the next few days. He made the statement after two days of high-level negotiations in Berlin.
Once the documents are ready, American envoys are expected to deliver them directly to the Kremlin. The move could mark a critical moment in efforts to bring the long-running conflict closer to a settlement.
Five Key Documents Under Preparation
Zelenskyy shared details about the process in messages sent to journalists via WhatsApp on Tuesday morning. He said multiple documents are being prepared to address different aspects of peace and security.
“We are counting on five documents. Some of them concern security guarantees: legally binding, that is, voted on and approved by the US Congress,” he said, as quoted by the Guardian.
He explained that these guarantees would provide Ukraine with strong protection without direct US military involvement.
Security Guarantees Linked to Nato Model
Zelenskyy said the proposed guarantees would follow the principle of Nato’s collective defence clause. He said they would “mirror article 5” of Nato, offering Ukraine formal assurances while stopping short of US troops being deployed on the ground.
This approach, he suggested, could help balance Ukraine’s security needs with political realities in Washington.
Russia Yet to Engage With Proposals
Despite positive remarks from US officials, there is little evidence so far that Russia is ready to compromise. American officials described the Berlin talks as productive and claimed that “90%” of the hardest issues had been resolved.
However, Russian representatives did not attend the discussions. The Kremlin has also not received the proposed documents.
“We have seen newspaper reports so far, but we will not respond to them. We have not seen any texts yet,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Moscow Repeats Long-Standing Demands
Peskov restated Russia’s long-held position on the conflict. He said Moscow continues to demand territorial concessions from Ukraine and remains opposed to the presence of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil.
“Our position is well known. It is consistent, it is transparent and it is clear to the Americans. And, in general, it is clear to the Ukrainians as well,” he said.
Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov echoed the stance. He said Russia would not allow troops from Nato countries to operate in Ukraine “under any circumstances.”
Europe Voices Cautious Optimism
European leaders responded to the talks with guarded hope. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said peace now appears closer than before.
He described peace as being “closer than at any time since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.” At the same time, officials privately admit that the talks are also meant to secure continued US backing for Ukraine under the Trump administration.
Territorial Issue Remains Major Obstacle
The most difficult issue continues to be territory. US negotiators are reportedly urging Ukraine to give up parts of the Donbas region as part of a settlement.
Kyiv has so far refused to accept any loss of territory and insists on keeping its current borders intact.
Zelenskyy said he expects the peace documents to be finalised “today or tomorrow.” He added that once this happens, senior-level talks with Russia could take place as early as this weekend.