New round of talks with Russia may take place in the US

New round of talks with Russia may take place in the US next week - Zelenskyy

The next round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia may take place in the US next week - on Tuesday or Wednesday, if the Russian side agrees to participate. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

What's on the agenda

According to the Head of State, the key topics of the upcoming talks include:

• mechanisms ceasefire and the format of its control;

• the US proposal to creation of a buffer free economic zone in eastern Donetsk region;

• legal registration of a future peace agreement.

Zelensky stressed that Neither Ukraine nor Russia supports the idea of a free economic zone, and the parties' positions on this issue differ significantly.

The President stressed separately: when it comes to Ukrainian territory, Ukraine should be the one to manage it, Therefore, the United States needs to define its position on the possible control of the buffer zone more clearly.

US position and format of decisions

According to Zelensky, Donald Trump's administration seeks to sign all documents as part of the peaceful settlement simultaneously.

At the same time, the final approval of a potential peace agreement in Ukraine may take place:

• or through voting in the Verkhovna Rada;

• or by national referendum.

Truce and international monitoring

The latest negotiations in United Arab Emirates were focused on:

• technical mechanisms ceasefire;

• system monitoring with the participation of the United States.

However, the parties have not yet been able to finalise the details without political decisions at the highest level.

The President noted that all parties agree on the need to international monitoring of the ceasefire, However, the wording and specific parameters still need to be further agreed upon.

Context.

Intensification of diplomatic contacts is taking place against the backdrop of the search for a realistic model for ending the war, that would combine:

• security guarantees for Ukraine;

• international control over the implementation of the agreements;

• political legitimacy of the future decision.

The further course of the negotiations will largely depend on willingness of the parties to compromise and the US position as a key mediator.