Trump is waiting for a response from Ukraine to the “final offer” for peace talks: Axios

The US is waiting for Kyiv’s response to President Donald Trump’s “final proposal” for peace talks. They include, in particular, the freezing of the front line, security guarantees for Ukraine, Washington’s “recognition” of Crimea as part of the Russian Federation, the lifting of sanctions, and more. About this informs Axios.

It is noted that the United States expects the Ukrainian side to respond to such a peace plan as early as April 23, sources who are directly familiar with the proposal told the American publication. A one-page document that the US presented to Ukrainian officials in Paris last week described similar terms as Trump’s “final offer”. The White House emphasizes that it is ready to abandon “peace initiatives” if an agreement is not reached in the near future.

What the Russian Federation can get according to Trump’s proposal:

• “De jure” US recognition of Russia’s control in Crimea,
• “de facto” recognition of Russia’s occupation of parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions,
• the promise that Ukraine will not become a member of NATO – at the same time, the text states that Ukraine can become part of the European Union,
• cancellation of sanctions against the Russian Federation, introduced since 2014,
• expansion of economic cooperation with the USA, in particular in the energy and industrial sectors.

What Trump’s proposal offers to Ukraine:

• A “reliable security guarantee” involving a special group of European countries and potentially also like-minded non-European countries (the document is vague about how this peacekeeping operation will function and does not mention US involvement),
• the return of a small part of the Kharkiv region occupied by Russian troops,
• unimpeded passage along the Dnipro River, which runs along the front line in southern Ukraine,
• compensation and aid for reconstruction – although the document does not specify where exactly the funding will come from.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russian troops, will be considered Ukrainian, but will be managed by the United States. At the same time, electricity from the NPP will be supplied to both Ukraine and Russia. The document also mentions the U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal, which Trump said will be signed on Thursday.