The US and Ukraine are planning to present Moscow with a proposal for a ceasefire in the airspace, according to Reuters. Representatives of the two countries held consultations involving their intelligence services. The initiative is to be presented during a new round of diplomatic talks aimed at resolving the war.
Briefly about the main points
- The US and Ukraine discussed a ceasefire in the airspace.
- Representatives of the security services of both countries took part in the consultations.
- The proposal is set to be presented to Moscow during the next round of diplomatic talks.
- There are currently no publicly available details regarding the initiative or the monitoring arrangements.
- The Kremlin has not issued a direct response to this specific proposal.
What we know about the initiative
Ukrainian and American representatives discussed the possibility of a ceasefire in the air. Representatives of the security services of both countries joined the discussions.
According to Reuters, the proposal is set to be put forward during a new round of talks with Moscow on resolving the war. The date, format of these talks and the content of the document have not been made public.
The terms of the agreement have not yet been made public
At present, there is no public information on exactly which types of weapons a potential ceasefire, what its scope will be and whether any exceptions will be provided for. It is also unclear whether the parties discussed the duration of such a regime.
No specific details were provided regarding the mechanism for recording launches and breaches. This is a crucial detail for any agreement: without agreed rules for verification, it will be difficult for the parties to establish liability for any breaches.
These contacts are taking place against the backdrop of the need for air defence
On 23 July, the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he had discussed joint measures with the US President’s envoys to put an end to Russian aggression. At the same time, he described missiles for the Patriot and other air defence systems as a priority whilst the attacks continue.
On 13 July, the Coalition of the Willing once again called for an immediate and complete ceasefire and direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, with the active participation of the US and Europe. Its co-chairs also announced their intention to step up the supply of air defence systems, interceptors and long-range capabilities to Ukraine.
What the silence in the sky might change
According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, at least 293 civilians were killed in Ukraine in June, with a further 1,990 injured. Long-range missiles and drones were the main cause of these casualties: they accounted for 126 deaths and 907 injuries.
If the agreement covers long-range missiles, drones and airborne weapons, it could reduce the risks to cities and the civilian population. At the same time, such an agreement would not, in itself, mean an end to hostilities on the front line.
24 July, a Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov He told Reuters that Moscow would await new US proposals on ending the war, but would continue military operations to achieve its objectives. There has been no direct public response from Moscow specifically regarding the initiative for a ceasefire.
