Zelensky is said to have told European leaders that he would reject any proposal in which Ukraine had to give up further territory, but that Russia could be allowed to retain some of the land it has taken, a softening of the President’s position, The Telegraph reported, citing an unnamed Western official.
While Ukrainians wait to see what comes out of Friday’s meeting in Alaska between Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, they are “extraordinarily weary after three and a half years in this war”, John Lough, Head of Foreign Policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre, told The i Paper.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in 2019 (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP)
Despite more Ukrainians wanting to seek a negotiated end to the war, Dr Volodymyr Ishchenko, a Ukrainian researcher and author of Ukraine from Maiden to War, said there is a “bigger and bigger gap between what people say they are willing to do and what they are actually willing to do”.
As a result, Zelensky now finds himself “between a rock and a hard place”, said Director of International Security at Royal United Services Institute Dr Neil Melvin, “between Trump and Ukrainian public opinion”.
“As soon as you go down that path, you would have to hold a referendum, which could threaten the unity of Ukraine.”
However, Trump lashed out at Zelensky on Monday when the Ukrainian President suggested he would not surrender Ukraine’s land to Russia.
Four possible outcomes for Ukraine being floated before the Alaska meeting on FridayLough rejected the idea there was “any sign of softening” on Zelensky’s part, but said there was “an understanding and acceptance of the situation”.
Melvin does not believe it is possible to say whether Zelensky has changed his negotiation position because “we do not have any clear negotiating positions from either side”, owing to “confusion over what the summit is about”.
“It is possible Zelensky has a more flexible position,” Melvin said, “to encompass this unclear negotiation.”
Lough agreed, pointing out that while Putin did want to “lock in gains” his military had achieved on the front line, there was still a long list of grievances he would want addressing in a future peace plan. This would include assurances that Ukraine would not join Nato, and putting limits on the Ukrainian armed forces – terms Zelensky has shown absolutely no signs of agreeing to.
Trump said he was a ‘little bothered’ by Zelensky saying he needs constitutional approval to change Ukraine’s borders (Photo: Saul Loeb/ AFP via Getty Images)
Ishchenko told The i Paper that the Russian leader would not want to freeze the front line where it was if Putin believed he could take the whole of Donbas “in a matter of weeks or months”, adding: “The front line is so rapidly developing.”
Russian troops in Donetsk, however, are believed to be making small but important gains in seizing the key transportation and logistics hub of Pokrovsk. Dubbed “the gateway to Donetsk” by Russian media, Pokrovsk could provide a platform for Moscow to drive north towards the two biggest remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donetsk – Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
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Looking to Friday, Melvin described the meeting between the US and Russian Presidents as a “stalling tactic” on Putin’s part, telling The i Paper: “His main goal at the moment is to show willingness to negotiate to neutralise American opposition.”
With commentators expecting the experienced Russian leader to easily out-negotiate Trump, Ukrainians will “hold their breath”, Lough said, hoping for some sign of progress.
“Some people,” Ishchenko added, “look with hope as they are desperate for peace as soon as possible.”
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