Russian Councilor Yuri Ushakov reiterates that the changes made to the peace plan will have to be approved by Moscow, while the ceasefire will take place “only after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops” from Donbass. Tomorrow in Paris new meeting between Ukrainians and Europeans, American presence uncertain.
The last week of feverish negotiations over the peace plan for Ukraine seems to have diverted attention from one small but important detail. That is, the plan being defined between the United States and Ukraine will also have to be approved by Russia.
It may seem trivial, but in the myriad of meetings, video conferences and announcements that follow one another, It seems to be taken for granted that Moscow will accept all the changes to the original 28-point plan (now 20).
Ushakov warns: “We will not be satisfied with the revised plan”
But Moscow’s acceptance of the revised plan is by no means a given, as reiterated this morning by Yuri UshakovKremlin Foreign Policy Advisor, present at the December 2 meeting in Moscow with American negotiators Steve Witkoff And Jared Kushner.
«I don’t think we will be completely satisfied», Ushakov reported regarding the new peace plan that the United States, Ukraine and Europe are drawing up in recent days.
«We have not seen any modified version of the American plans», continued Ushakov, «when we see it, we may not like many things».
«Sooner or later, active contacts with the Americans will resume, because what the Americans are currently coordinating with Europeans and Ukrainians must sooner or later be shown to us, which of course will provoke our appropriate response», concluded the Kremlin Counselor.
“Ceasefire only after Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbass”
In other words, Moscow implies that the final plan agreed between Americans and Ukrainians will be a starting pointnot the ultimate outcome that will be implemented to end the war.
Ushakov then wanted to reiterate that a ceasefire will be possible.”only after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops” from Donbass. “Sooner or later, if not through negotiations, then by force, this territory will come under the full control of the Russian Federation“.
On the idea of demilitarization of the region, Ushakov conceded that «perhaps there will be neither Russian nor Ukrainian troops in Donbass», adding however that «there will be Rosgvardiya»the Russian National Guard.
The points still to be resolved between Ukrainians and Americans
On the other hand, consultations between Americans, Ukrainians and Europeans are still ongoing. Last night the President Volodymyr Zelenskyduring a media briefing, illustrated what the points of friction remained with the Americans on the peace plan.
«Regarding Donbass, Americans want a ‘free economic zone’while the Russians prefer a ‘demilitarized’ one. This means that Ukraine completely abandons Donbass (the part that still controls, 12% of the total, ed.) and Russia does not enter it.”
The Ukrainian President then specified that «the question of territories will be decided by the Ukrainian people through elections or a referendum.”
The second point of contrast is that relating to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plantoccupied by the Russians. The power plant is the largest in Europe, and before the war it alone produced 21% of Ukraine’s electricity.
For Zelensky, not only Ukrainian, but also «Russian» troops must withdraw from the plant to a certain distance, then Ukraine will have the opportunity to access the plant. After these steps, we can discuss the joint management of the nuclear power plant.”
European summit in Paris on Saturday, American presence uncertain
Last night, from Washington, the American President Donald Trump he also confirmed tomorrow’s summit in Paris, which will see Europeans and Ukrainians engaged in trying to resolve the outstanding issues.
However, the American presence is uncertain. «I will send a representative only if there is a real possibility of signing a peace agreement: we have already spent over 30 hours with Russians, Ukrainians and Europeans», declared the American President during the night.
The tycoon he appears increasingly impatient towards his European allies, as reiterated yesterday: «They are wasting time… Europe is weak on this front: we have been talking about it for years, but nothing happens. We don’t want to waste time».
