Ukraine has outlined a set of non-negotiable conditions as the The U.S. attempts to negotiate a truce. deal with Russia , The Independent understands.
Following three years of conflict, everyone is anticipating whether the situation will change. 30-day plan accepted by Volodymyr Zelensky On Tuesday will discover shared territory with Vladimir Putin.
Senior Ukrainian officials privy to the current negotiations have expressed minimal confidence that Russia will agree to a fair settlement, stating: "We anticipate some form of deception."
Despite Donald Trump describing "constructive and fruitful" discussions with Russia on Friday Putin has faced accusations of employing delay strategies by emphasizing "minor details" and additional queries, along with proposing that Ukraine would be barred from arming itself, organizing troops, or obtaining military assistance from Western nations throughout the ceasefire.
However, Ukraine is known to have specific conditions for negotiations should the conflict cease. These encompass:
- No additional territories will be handed over, even though Putin wants to annex the four Ukrainian regions that have been under partial occupation by Russian forces since 2014.
- The comeback of thousands of Ukrainians children abducted by Russia
- The return of thousands of civilians wrongfully detained by Russia who are not regarded as Prisoners of War And thus would not be part of Proof-of-Work (PoW) exchanges.
- An requirement for global security assurances, in case Putin violates any conditions. ceasefire deal
Ukrainian authorities fear that Russia’s delays may be just another "play" from their end.
We genuinely want to achieve peace, however, we seek a lasting one rather than just a temporary truce. ceasefire We do not desire our children “Fighting this battle,” stated the high-ranking source, who must remain unnamed since speaking with the press is prohibited for them.
Putin is engaging in games. We have taken a firm step – now it’s his move.
We have demonstrated our reasonableness; we are open to peace talks – should Russia refuse, the entire world will recognize them as deceitful.
A major source of disagreement revolves around the repatriation of tens of thousands of children who Ukraine claims have been taken to Russia with the intention of erasing the nation's identity.
Kyiv asserts that it has knowledge of at least 20,000 children who have been moved to Russia or territories under Russian control Without the approval of their families or legal guardians since the conflict started, labeling these kidnappings as a war crime that aligns with the UN treaty criteria for genocide.
A further concern is Putin's insistence that Ukraine must relinquish all control over Kherson as part of any agreement. Zaporizhzhia , Donetsk and Luhansk, where parts of the regions have been under Russian military control since 2014.
Following the complete 2022 invasion, Moscow " annexed" these territories through referendums conducted in the seized zones. These votes were largely rejected by the global community as unlawful and forced.
The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that discussions with Ukraine this week included mentions of potential territorial adjustments, and he has also stated before that Kiev should anticipate having to cede territory.
Ukrainian officials told The Independent They have accepted the present stalemate where combat zones remain static, with Russia maintaining control over certain areas as a prerequisite for a truce; however, giving up further land would be non-negotiable.
It isn’t reasonable to expect, for instance, Zaporizhzhia or Kherson to be completely surrendered — that comes across as a demand for us to leave.
They stated that the future of these territories held by Russia following the invasion in February 2022 has yet to be determined.
We will strive to regain it through diplomatic means.
During his press briefing on Thursday, Putin stated that Russia was in favor of a truce, provided that this ceasefire would result in lasting peace and address the underlying issues fueling the dispute.
He additionally mentioned several "subtleties," including the situation in Kursk, where a ceasefire would be highly beneficial for Ukraine.
The Kremlin later said Putin was “cautiously optimistic” after holding late-night talks in Moscow with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, on the US proposal.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a top advisor to President Zelensky, voiced skepticism about Putin’s statements, describing them as a "clear wish to keep the conflict going."
He indicated that it essentially compelled Ukraine to "surrender its arms, military forces, ability to mobilize, and supply of equipment, and merely quietly observe as Russians persist in 'peaceful' shelling across the whole frontline..."
On Friday, President Zelensky expressed optimism about the possibility of ending the conflict with Russia but voiced concerns that Putin might attempt to prolong negotiations over the ceasefire indefinitely. He called upon the U.S. and Ukraine’s international partners to exert additional pressure on Russia.
On Friday, the G7 countries, which include the UK, issued a warning to Moscow, urging them to agree to the U.S.-proposed 30-day cease-fire along with Kyiv, otherwise they would confront additional sanctions, as stated in a preliminary document.
President Trump once more urged Russia to agree to and finalize a "ceasefire and ultimate accord," stating on his personal social media platform on Friday that he planned to withdraw the U.S. from what he described as a "genuine 'quagmire'" with Russia.
In Ukraine, there are significant worries regarding how a ceasefire and frozen frontlines might affect tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. They fear these kids may either be forcefully relocated to Russia or become trapped within occupied areas since the start of the full-scale invasion.
A major requirement for the agreement is the return of these children along with an end to " Russification" policies—such as mandatory passport acquisition and re-education centers —that have been enforced.
This week, the UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia has distributed 3.5 million passports to Ukrainians residing in territories that are unlawfully occupied by Russia. exposing them to the possibility of being drafted into its military forces.
"While Ukraine battles for its existence, Russia is amassing its forces not only with troops but also with abducted children," stated Mykola Kuleba of Save Ukraine, group that has successfully found and recovered more than 600 children Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, including three teenagers in the past week.
During the last eleven years, around 1.6 million Ukrainian children have found themselves living under Russian-controlled areas. A significant number of these children have been relocated against their will to Russia. These young individuals undergo education in newly established institutions where they are taught doctrines not aligned with Ukraine’s values. As a result, their sense of Ukrainian identity fades away, replaced instead by animosity towards Western nations, the U.S., and our allied countries.
Civil society in Ukraine is equally worried about Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians being detained in Russian correctional facilities.
The Center for Civil Liberties, honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for their efforts, stated that following the full-scale invasion, they have documented at least 8,000 civilian cases in 70 separate detention facilities located in both occupied regions and within Russia itself.
The unconditional release of civilians must be included as part of this agreement," stated Vyacheslav Likhachev from the center, emphasizing that the ceasefire represents one of the few opportunities to recover those who have been detained.
For over three years, nothing has effectively compelled Russia to free hostages or adhere to international humanitarian laws. Sanctions must not be eased until these individuals are released.
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