Europe agrees to Russia's return to the G8
British edition The Telegraph reports that Europe, as part of an alternative «peace plan», has agreed to support Russia's return to the G8 format. The information became known from the leak of documents describing the European version of the agreements to end the war.
According to the publication, the plan contains a number of concession, The EU's efforts to demonstrate its readiness to compromise in negotiations with the US and Russia should have been successful.
What the European plan contains
According to the leak, the document provides:
limiting the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in peacetime to 800 thousand military personnel;
Kyiv's commitment to hold prompt elections after the end of hostilities;
Europe's consent to Russia's return to the G8 club.
At the same time, the European version of the agreement excludes Moscow's key demand - Ukraine's giving up the territories that are not currently under occupation. This, according to the publication, would be a red line for Kyiv and a significant concession by the West to the Kremlin.
Context.
European capitals are currently negotiating with the United States on an updated version of the «peace proposals». The FT and other media outlets have reported on a list of amendments that the EU is seeking to make to strengthen security guarantees for Ukraine.
The leak, made public The Telegraph, illustrates that Europe is looking for its own formula for compromise - but the final position has not yet been formed, and Washington's reaction remains unknown.
Ukrainian
English