On the table the exchange of territories between Russia and Ukraine
During the summit in Alaska, Putin proposed to freeze the war on the current front asking Ukraine to retire from Donbass, in exchange for the Russian retreat from the areas occupied in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv. Trump, immediately after the summit, said: “Better a peace agreement, which would put an end to the conflict, and not a simple ceasefire.” While the Ukrainian leader explained that “if only he wanted, Putin could take all the Donbass”. Zelensky disagrees, considers him a bluff, and has declared his opposition to sell the Donbass. In his official interventions, he clarified: “We will not give the Earth to the occupant”.
American initiative for Kiev’s security guarantees
During the interviews, Trump advanced the possibility that the United States offer Kiev a protection system similar to Article 5 of NATO, without formally insert Ukraine in the Atlantic alliance, as suggested by Giorgia Meloni. This option provides for military protection in case of new attacks. The question was discussed during a phone call between Trump and Zelensky and will be one of the key points in the meeting scheduled in Washington, to which several European leaders are also invited.
Not only that. Trump would have explained to the western allies that Putin would be willing to put his commitment in writing not to attack Ukraine again or other countries. Promise to which the EU tends not to believe.
Meeting of European leaders and role of the European Union
Divisions in the European political panorama and international reactions
Not all the leaders of the continent showed units of intent. The Hungarian premier Viktor Orbán, near Putin, said: «The Ukrainians lost the war. Russia won. ” These words arrived a few hours before the meeting in Alaska, showing the fracture between the European Union front on how to continue mediation, and confirming that the debate remains lit even among the member countries.
Field situation and positions of the protagonists
On a military level, the Russian troops conquered Popiv Yar, a village in Donbass, while in the same area they advanced by about 15 kilometers. Zelensky, attentive to the movements of the front, explained: “The Russian army could try to increase the pressure and attacks against Ukrainian positions in the next few days, in order to create more favorable political circumstances at the interviews”. Trump, for his part, continues to push for a rapid agreement, even if the fire has not been reached in the Alaska summit.
The proposal of the US-Russia-Ukraine trilateral summit
Trump has communicated to European partners the desire to organize a trilateral summit between the United States, Russia and Ukraine, potentially already within the week following the face to face in Alaska. The main node remains the exchange of territories, flanked by the possible guarantees of safety for Kiev. The uncertainty remains on the developments of the negotiations and on what the decisive involvement of the European Union may be in the search for a lasting solution. To the courier, Keith Kellogg, the US correspondent for Ukraine said: “We will try to organize a trilateral summit (Trump-Putin -zeky, editor’s note) within the next week. At the moment the largest obstacle is to find an agreement on the exchange of the territorieswhatever it means concretely. At the same time we will discuss the security guarantees to be provided to Ukraine. These are the two most important points on the table ».
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