In a significant development regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Dr. Ayman Samir, an expert in international relations, has revealed details of a proposed American plan aimed at halting the hostilities. During an interview with "Extra News," Samir outlined the key points of the proposal, which he described as a single-page document that includes several critical clauses.
The first major stipulation of the proposal is that Ukraine would need to relinquish Crimea, along with all territories currently under Russian control in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye. In exchange, Ukraine would be allowed to retain administrative control over the lands in the four regions, provided Russia withdraws from certain pockets in the Kharkiv region, located in the far north.
Samir emphasized that Russia has already liberated approximately 99% of the territories it seized from Ukraine in the Kursk and Volgograd regions. The focus now shifts to the five regions that include Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, alongside the four regions captured during the ongoing conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron has criticized this plan, arguing that conceding Crimea without negotiations would grant Russia an undue advantage. He highlighted that NATO's policies and strategic thinking have undergone a transformation since the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian war. European nations, regardless of their NATO membership, have begun to prioritize military recruitment and spending, which previously hovered around 1% of their GDP. Now, some countries are exceeding 4% as they ramp up arms purchases.
In a related context, Axios reported that the United States is awaiting Ukraine's response to a separate peace agreement proposal from former President Donald Trump. This proposal includes recognizing Crimea as part of Russia and acknowledging Russian control over nearly all territories seized since the war began in 2022.
The document presented to Ukrainian officials in Paris last week is described as Trump's "final offer". The White House has indicated its willingness to withdraw from the issue if an agreement is not reached soon. The proposal demands significant concessions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has previously rejected any recognition of Russian control over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine.
During discussions, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly offered to freeze current front lines to facilitate an agreement, although he previously dismissed other aspects of the American framework, such as the establishment of a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
A source close to the Ukrainian government conveyed that Kyiv views Trump's proposal as heavily biased in favor of Russia. The source noted that while the proposal outlines the specific benefits Russia would receive, it speaks vaguely about what Ukraine would gain.
According to Axios, the proposal would grant Russia a "legal" recognition of its claim over Crimea and a "practical" acknowledgment of its control over the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye. Additionally, it guarantees that Ukraine will not join NATO, while suggesting that Ukraine could become part of the European Union.
The proposal also hints at lifting sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014 and enhancing economic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, particularly in the energy and industrial sectors.
For Ukraine, the proposal offers a "strong security guarantee" from a coalition of European nations and potentially other like-minded countries. However, the specifics of how a peacekeeping force would operate remain ambiguous, with no mention of U.S. involvement.
Furthermore, the plan includes provisions for the return of a small part of the Kharkiv region currently occupied by Russia, along with compensation and reconstruction aid, although the funding sources for these initiatives remain unspecified in the document.
Axios also highlighted additional elements of the American plan, which stipulates that the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the largest facility in Europe, will be recognized as Ukrainian territory. However, the U.S. would assume responsibility for its operation and supply electricity to both Ukraine and Russia.
The plan emerged after Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin for more than four hours last week. Following the presentation of the proposal, Putin indicated a willingness to end the war along current front lines as part of a potential agreement, according to the Financial Times.
Despite this apparent willingness from Putin, skepticism remains among European politicians regarding the viability of the peace proposal. An American official reported that Ukraine has shown signs of being more open to negotiating a ceasefire for a 30-day period during meetings in London, though not specifically under Trump's peace plan.
This evolving situation continues to draw international attention, with implications for global security and geopolitical dynamics. As both sides assess their positions, the world watches closely to see if a path to peace can be forged amidst the ongoing conflict.
