PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelensky scoffed at the idea of recognising Ukraine’s Crimea region as Russian territory as part of a peace deal.
The US has offered to concede to Russian ownership of the region in a reported seven-point peace plan, in exchange for Putin freezing the frontline.
AFPZelensky vowed that Ukraine would never recognise Crimea as Russian territory[/caption]
AFPA key element of the US peace plan is reportedly Washington’s recognition of Crimea as Russian[/caption]
ReutersFighting on the frontline continues, though could soon relent under Putin’s reported offer[/caption]
But Zelensky vowed Ukraine would not, under any circumstances, hand over the land, which Russia invaded in 2014.
He said: “There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution.
“This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine.”
This position pits Ukraine directly at odds with the US, in light of the terms of the new peace proposal.
The seven-point plan drawn up by the US would, according The Telegraph, allow Russia to keep some of the land it seized from Ukraine.
The proposal is expected to be discussed in London today to gauge Kyiv‘s further reaction.
However, a glaring omission from the plan is the lack of any clear US security guarantees.
Trump reportedly included Crimea in the package after Putin hinted he was willing to stop grabbing land and give up his official claims to four parts of Ukraine he partly occupies.
Putin suggested freezing the frontline to Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, during their third meeting which happened earlier this month, three source told the Financial Times.
The US then floated the idea of a settlement that would see Washington recognise Russian ownership of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.
The offer was reportedly sweetened with the suggestion the US could acknowledge Russia’s effective control of the four part-occupied regions.
Putin’s proposal to halt advances would mark the first time he has given credible signs he is willing to soften his radical demands.
But European officials briefed on the US-driven peace efforts have warned that Putin is not to be trusted.
They said he would likely use the compromise to manipulate Trump into accepting Russia‘s other demands.
EPAUkraine refuses to give over any land to the invaders[/caption]
ReutersUkrainian forces fight to repel Vlad’s forces every day[/caption]
One official told the FT: “There is a lot of pressure on Kyiv right now to give up on things so Trump can claim victory.”
Zelensky echoed that warning.
He said that discussions to include Crimea in any peace offer risk placing negotiations into the hands of the Kremlin.
By putting Crimea on the table, he insisted the US would be playing into Putin’s “game”.
Zelensky said: “As soon as talks about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the talks enter the format that Russia wants — prolonging the war – because it will not be possible to agree on everything quickly.
“We know where these signals are sounding and will continue to sound.”
He said he did not know whether the inclusion of Crimea originated from Russia or US representatives.
EPARescuers work at the site of a drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday[/caption]
ReutersRussian shelling has decimated many Ukrainian towns including Pokrovsk, pictured here[/caption]
Zelensky’s rebuttal comes as officials from the UK, the US and the EU prepare to meet in London today to push forward the peace process.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the meeting will pick up where talks left off in Paris last week, with a focus on what the terms of a long-term ceasefire deal might look like.
The reported seven-point plan drawn up by the US is likely to be high on the agenda.
Initially, the meeting was supposed to involve foreign ministers, but that plan was scrapped when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the last minute he could not attend.
The States will be represented by General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the conflict was too “complex” to achieve a speedy ceasefire.
He told state TV: “It is not worth setting any rigid time frames and trying to get a settlement, a viable settlement, in a short time frame.”
And White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed Witkoff would be travelling to Moscow again, marking his fourth trip since Trump took office.
She said: “The negotiations continue. We’re hopefully moving in the right direction.”
Seven-point plan
The US has drafted a seven-point plan which, it hopes, will draw a path to peace between Ukraine and Russia.
A source with knowledge of the plan revealed the content of the main points, reports The Telegraph:
Immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
Direct talks between Ukraine and Russia
Ukraine to be barred from joining Nato
US to formally recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea
US to give de-facto recognition of four Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia along current lines of control
Ukraine to sign minerals deal to share profits on natural resources with the US
All US sanctions lifted on Russia and both countries co-operate on energy
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