THE US has thrown down a final ultimatum to Russia and Ukraine, warning the sides must make a deal now – or it will “walk away”
Trump has been trying to forge a peace deal since he took power, and his patience now seems near breaking-point.
ReutersUS Vice President JD Vance issued a final ultimatum in India[/caption]
AFPTrump’s administration has continually cranked up the pressure on Russia and Ukraine to reach a deal[/caption]
EPARussian missile and drone attacks continue to torment Ukrainian towns and cities beneath the struggling negotiations[/caption]
JD Vance, Trump’s vice-president, said on Wednesday: “We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians.
“It’s time for them to either say ‘yes’, or for the United States to walk away from this process.”
Vance said it was a very fair proposal that would freeze the front-lines near to where they are now, and require both sides to give up some territory.
He did not provide further details of the proposal, but it could refer to a seven-point peace plan the US has reportedly drawn up.
This was expected to be presented to international foreign minsters in London today, but the talks were scrapped last minute when the US pulled out.
The US efforts to broker peace have included repeated meetings between Putin and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Putin has continually been accused of scuppering negotiations and seeking to extend the war.
Earlier this month, Trump issued a blistering warning to Putin that he must “get moving” and accept a peace deal.
Then, last week, the US’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed America would turn to other priorities unless progress came quickly.
Speaking after peace talks in Paris, Rubio said: “We’re not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end.
“So we need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks.
“If it is we’re in. If it’s not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well.”
Hours later, Trump agreed the US would “take a pass” if either Moscow or Kyiv “make it very difficult” to reach a peace deal.
Vance’s latest ultimatum suggests the US has very nearly had enough and is on the brink of abandoning their efforts.
AFPZelensky has repeatedly tried to reach peace – most recently suggesting a 30-day ceasefire after the temporary Easter pause, which Putin rejected[/caption]
AFPPutin has widely been accused of wanting to prolong the war and deliberately scuppering peace negotiations[/caption]
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
Planned “substantive” talks in London on Wednesday were scrapped when Rubio dropped out last-minute – which he blamed on “scheduling issues”.
The summit was supposed to include foreign ministers from the US, UK and European nations, but was scaled back in light of the no-show.
Ukraine’s foreign and defence ministers still met their British counterparts David Lammy and John Healey.
The pared-back talks took place in the wake of Zelensky slamming one of the points reported to feature on the US’s seven-point peace plan.
The US reportedly offered to recognise Russian ownership of Ukraine’s Crimea region, which it invaded in 2014.
The concession was made in exchange for Putin agreeing to freeze the frontline in his last meeting with Witkoff.
He reportedly also hinted he was willing to stop grabbing land and give up his official claims to four parts of Ukraine Russia, three source told the Financial Times.
But Zelensky vowed Ukraine would not, under any circumstances, hand over the land.
afpFire fighters struggle to battle the blazes sparked by a Palm Sunday missile strike on Sumy[/caption]
east2westA bloodied mother cradles her child, who also looks to be injured, following the Sumy assault[/caption]
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.
However, a glaring omission from the plan is the lack of any clear US security guarantees.
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.
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.
Can there be peace?
By Lydia Doye
EARLIER this year it seemed hopeful that world leaders would broker a peace deal in Ukraine.
But these hopes are wavering as Putin has repeatedly refused to cooperate, instead choosing to ramp up attacks on Ukraine.
Putin’s latest recruitment drive could have huge ramifications for peace with Donald Trump already voicing serious concerns over Putin’s readiness to agree to a ceasefire in recent days.
Putin has already angered the US President over refusing to commit to any truce agreement.
Trump previously admitted he was “p***ed off” with the Russian tyrant after he called for Zelensky’s removal from office in an effort to stall peace.
In Europe Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have put forward an idea to help maintain a future truce deal by sending their troops to patrol.
But this proposal has been widely condemned by Putin and his Kremlin pals sparking further Russia-European tensions.
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