Big news from the global diplomacy front: as a U.S. delegation gears up to touch down in Moscow next week 🛫, fresh peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are taking shape—but don’t expect any quick fixes. Deep divisions on key issues still cloud the horizon.
Here’s the lowdown:
- Timing: Yesterday (Thursday) President Putin confirmed the U.S. is set to arrive in the first half of next week. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy announced his team will sit down with U.S. reps later this week.
- The U.S. 28-point plan: Proposed as a discussion starter, this blueprint has been through several rewrites. Both sides agree some points could work—but none of it is locked in yet.
So what’s tripping everyone up? 🤔
- Donbas territory: Russia demands full control of the region, Kyiv refuses to give up key defensive positions, and the U.S. has pitched a demilitarized zone idea.
- Troop caps: Washington floats a 600,000 cap—over double Ukraine’s pre-conflict force. Russia finds that hard to swallow.
- NATO membership: Moscow wants legal guarantees that Ukraine stays out of NATO; Ukraine insists its future should be decided by its people. Europe isn’t cool with granting Moscow a veto on NATO expansion.
Chen Yu 🙋♂️, deputy director at the Eurasian Studies Institute of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, says the gap is still wide. Russia’s demands on Donbas control and NATO exclusion clash with Ukraine’s core interests, making any deal a tough nut to crack.
Why it matters to you: this isn’t just global politics—energy prices, tech supply chains and regional stability all come into play. When big moves happen in Moscow or Kyiv, waves are felt as far as Mumbai, Jakarta and beyond.
With such red lines still in place, negotiators are in for a rocky road. The big question: can they transform these broad proposals into real, lasting solutions? We’ll be watching next week when talks kick off for signs of progress 👍.
Stay tuned for more updates on this crucial story! 🌏
Reference(s):
Deep divisions remain on core issues as new peace talks expected
cgtn.com
