There are disagreements within the Ukrainian delegation participating in peace negotiations regarding how quickly an agreement should be reached with Russia.
One part of the negotiating team, led by the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Kirilo Budanov, believes that „Ukraine’s interests are best served by quickly reaching an agreement led by Americans.” This part of the delegation fears that the optimal time to take necessary action will soon run out, reports The Economist.
Another part of the Ukrainian delegation is still, probably, "under the influence of the former chief of the presidential office, Andriî Iermak, who resigned amid a corruption scandal." This wing "is much less decisive," notes the cited publication.
It adds that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seems to balance these two parts but also has his own ideas.
A new round of negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States on ending the Russo-Ukrainian war began today in Geneva. The Russian delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, an advisor to the Russian president, and the Ukrainian one is led by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov.
The discussions start from an American plan, and the topic of territorial concessions in exchange for security guarantees is back at the center of the debate, but Moscow's demand for Ukraine to withdraw from the controlled areas in Donetsk is blocking any progress.
The idea of a possible exchange remains at the center of the negotiations: territorial concessions from Kiev in exchange for Western security guarantees. Expectations are described as low, given the still distant positions and the escalation of attacks on the ground.
According to TASS, the negotiations will cover at least five areas: territorial, military, political, economic issues, as well as "a wide range of security aspects."
The Italian press writes that security advisors from France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom are also present in Geneva, and they will have meetings with the delegations of Ukraine and the United States.
T.D.