US negotiator Jared Kushner has stated that the main parameters of a possible peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia have almost been agreed, although Vladimir Putin’s territorial demand remains the key unresolved condition. Moscow is insisting that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the part of the Donbas that Russia has so far been unable to capture by military means. Kyiv has not yet agreed to such a concession.
Briefly about the main points
- Kushner stated that the peace agreement has been almost entirely finalised.
- The main unresolved issue remains the Donbas.
- Putin is demanding that the Ukrainian Armed Forces withdraw from territories controlled by Ukraine.
- Kyiv is, for the time being, refusing to withdraw from these positions of its own accord.
- Ukraine controls approximately 21–22% of the Donetsk region.
- A new round of trilateral talks is being planned for October.
Kushner described the territorial issue as the last major obstacle
An envoy of US President Donald Trump Jared Kushner stated that the negotiators had already come close to agreeing on most of the future peace deal.
According to him, the main problem at present boils down to the Russian president’s demand Vladimir Putin, so that the Ukrainian army crossed the line set by Moscow.
«The peace agreement has almost been finalised, but Putin is demanding that Ukraine withdraw beyond a certain line that he has drawn. If the Ukrainians do that, then we are all set for peace, but they are not yet willing to withdraw their troops,» said Kushner.
In the context of the negotiations, the main focus is on areas of the Donetsk Oblast under Ukrainian control.
Reuters reports that territorial issue This remains the main point of contention: Moscow wants to take control of the rest of eastern Donbas, whilst Kyiv refuses to hand over territory that the Ukrainian army continues to hold.
Russia is claiming territories it has failed to capture
According to Ukrainian figures, Russia does not currently control approximately 21–22% in the Donetsk Oblast.
This includes, amongst other things, a well-fortified belt of towns and positions that remain under the control of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. Moscow has been attempting to capture these areas for a long time, but has been unable to achieve its objective by military means.
That is precisely why the Ukrainian side regards the Russian demand as a de facto proposal to cede, through diplomatic channels, the territory which the Russian army was unable to capture on the battlefield.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeatedly rejected the idea of a unilateral withdrawal by the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the Donetsk region.
Previous US proposals had considered the idea of establishing a demilitarised or free economic zone in part of the Donbas. Kyiv insisted that if Ukrainian troops were to withdraw from the front line, Russian forces must retreat a comparable distance on their side.
Putin did not change his position following the meeting with the Americans
In early September, Kushner, together with Steve Witkoff visited Moscow, where the American delegation held talks with Putin for over three hours.
The negotiators then travelled to Kyiv and met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
However, sources familiar with the progress of the negotiations reported that Moscow has not shown any willingness to make significant territorial concessions. Putin continues to insist on control over the Donbas and other long-standing demands of the Kremlin.
Zelenskyy after meetings Speaking with US representatives, he stated that Kushner and Witkoff had brought several new «very good, worthwhile» ideas to Kyiv, but the parties had agreed not to disclose them publicly for the time being.
Negotiations may resume as early as October
On 12 September, the head of the President’s Office, Kirill Budanov, told Reuters that Ukraine is preparing for the resumption of trilateral talks involving Kyiv, Moscow and Washington in October.
The venue has not yet been decided. Turkey, the UAE and Switzerland have previously been mentioned as possible options.
The previous round of trilateral talks took place in Geneva in February, after which the diplomatic process effectively ground to a halt.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues. On 12 September, Russia continued its large-scale attacks on Ukraine, resulting in civilian deaths in several regions.
Territories remain the key issue in the forthcoming agreement
Despite claims of significant progress, it is the Donbas that is currently preventing the parties from finalising the agreement.
For Moscow, the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the remaining parts of the Donetsk region under Kyiv’s control remains one of its key demands. For Ukraine, agreeing to this would mean voluntarily abandoning fortified towns and positions that Russia has been unable to capture throughout the years of the war.
Kushner’s statement, therefore, that the agreement is effectively ready provided Ukraine withdraws its troops, highlights both the extent of the progress made and the main problem facing the negotiations: The last outstanding issue does not concern a technical detail, but rather control over Ukrainian territory.
