Ukraine plan: capitulation or a path to peace?
The 28-point plan drawn up by Russian and US negotiators to end the war in Ukraine has now been presented to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has announced that he will work with the US on the plan to achieve a "dignified end to the war". US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the document as a "list of potential ideas" rather than a final proposal. EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas has warned that the Europeans must be involved in the negotiations to ensure that the plan can work.
Too weak to reject dictated peace
SRF does not see anything positive coming out of this:
“Normally the Ukrainian and European response to this secret plan would be a resounding no. However, the situation has changed significantly to Ukraine's disadvantage. Militarily, Russia is making swift advances. The Ukrainian armed forces are exhausted, while Russia, despite heavy losses, can and will continue the war. President Volodymyr Zelensky is also under domestic pressure over a corruption scandal. And the Europeans are proving unable or unwilling to provide sufficient financial and military assistance to the country in its increasingly precarious situation. Kyiv's options for action are fading. The air is getting thin. The chances of being able to refuse a peace dictated by Russia and the US are dwindling.”
Europe needs to get moving
It's time for the EU to follow words with deeds, Helsingin Sanomat urges:
“Both Moscow and certain circles in Washington clearly believe that the corruption scandal surrounding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has weakened him to such an extent that this is the right time to put pressure on Ukraine with tough conditions. However it will probably be even more difficult for Zelensky to agree to such conditions now. For Europe, and especially for the EU, this should be a wake-up call. ... Strong words are not enough; action is needed. Perhaps the EU could start by trying to make some decisions. Beginning with the Russian funds frozen in Belgium and with arms deliveries.”
Double crisis upping the pressure on Zelensky
The situation is becoming extremely difficult for the Ukrainian president, La Stampa notes:
“Last night many political commentators in Kyiv spoke of an 'hour X'. The two crises - the war against Russia and the embezzlement scandal - have overlapped and intertwined with almost impossible perfection. Add to this the image of Putin, dressed in a military uniform, announcing the capture of further cities in eastern Ukraine and describing the Kyiv leadership as a 'criminal gang', and the media impact becomes almost apocalyptic.”
Our lame statements fall flat
Dagens Nyheter has a clear opinion on the plan:
“Another word for this is 'capitulation'. Vladimir Putin won't be allowed to devour the entire country in one go, but he is being given a large bite, and everything is being done to ensure that the rest can be swallowed very soon. It's a disgrace that the US can negotiate like this at all. ... Europe's response is limited to rather lame statements that peace requires Ukraine to agree to the terms. The man in the White House is no doubt starting to see us as pretty compliant. What will he do if he decides that we're submissive? Threaten us with tariffs and the withdrawal of security guarantees if we don't go along with the attempts to impose Putin's terms on Kyiv.”
Moscow needs a success – and money
In a Facebook post, political scientist Nikolai Mitrokhin reflects on Russia's motives for ending the war:
“I see only one goal in the whole Putin-Trump plan: that Ukraine withdraws its troops from the north-western part of the Donetsk region and Moscow at least secures Kramatorsk and Slavyansk in a relatively intact condition and with tens of thousands of inhabitants. Then Putin could sell this as a 'liberation' to the Russian public. ... But this document also amounts to a confession that Russia wants to end the war quickly because it has run out of money and needs the sanctions to be lifted. And this is where the EU could play a key role by not sign the agreement - where will Putin go with his goods then?”
Don't make a deal without the people
Military expert Yuri Fyodorov warns in a Facebook post picked up by Echo against bypassing Ukrainian civil society in the negotiations:
“The position of Ukrainian society plays a decisive role. If it is prepared – and it is – to resist the Russian invasion, any agreement to the 'Trump plan' by the country's leader – be it Zelensky, someone else or a 'collective government' – will lead to a Maidan. ... Neither Washington nor Moscow have grasped this, convinced as they are that it's enough to agree among themselves to end the war and Ukrainians will obediently accept any agreement. They are mistaken.”
Kyiv in an absurd situation
Aktuálně.cz comments:
“The plan is absurd. Ukraine would have to recognise the annexation of Crimea, cede those parts of Donbass that are not yet occupied and agree to reduce its army. This is exactly what the American peace plan offers Kyiv. Paradoxically, the Ukrainians' only hope now is Vladimir Putin, who, as always, can play the game: 'That's not enough for me, I want more.'”
Where words don't meet deeds
The Daily Telegraph is incensed:
“Seldom has there been a more glaring and cynical contrast between public words and private actions. Even as Donald Trump was voicing his exasperation with Vladimir Putin and sanctioning Russia's biggest oil companies, the emissaries of both leaders were continuing to bargain over the future of Ukraine. The emergence of a 28-point peace plan, apparently agreed between Russia and America, lifts the veil on these contacts. ... Like a recurring nightmare, Ukraine and the rest of Europe once again face the prospect of Mr Trump joining hands with Putin to force a settlement down Volodymyr Zelensky's throat.”
Don't let Ukraine be forced to capitulate
Marko Mihkelson, Member of Parliament for the Estonian Reform Party, warns in Postimees:
“The (secret) direct talks between the US and Russia (Steve Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev) cannot in principle lead to a JUST peace in Europe. The result would be a partial or complete surrender by Ukraine. Kyiv cannot agree to this. Any kind of negotiations on the future of Ukraine and Europe without the participation of Ukraine and Europe (should it happen) would be a dead end. Estonia is a European state, and we and like-minded countries cannot and must not under any circumstances accept capitulation to Russian aggression. Negotiations with war criminals do not lead to peace.”
Washington easing the pressure on Moscow
Corriere della Sera complains:
“Donald Trump's White House was supposed to impose the first sanctions against the Russian oil sector tomorrow. That won't happen now, at least not in certain key areas. ... At the last minute, the Trump administration has quietly extended the deadline for the sale of all foreign assets belonging to the two Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil from tomorrow to 13 December. These assets remain attractive for American companies, but the White House prefers to ease the pressure.”
Hopefully not just smoke and mirrors
The negotiations between the US and Russia are advancing even if the information provided so far is very sketchy, Radio Kommersant FM observes:
“It cannot be ruled out that this whole affair is just a smokescreen. Something may indeed be in the works, and for that the ground needs to be prepared and public opinion swayed. But there is nothing concrete. All of this is in the spirit of Donald Trump, whose favourite trick is to put on a show and promote the idea of his own unpredictability. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that things are moving forward. So we can expect new sensational revelations. Let's just hope they don't turn out to be smoke and mirrors.”