The outlet was informed by sources who were familiar with talks that the US, UK, and EU tried to reach a peaceful settlement.
Kiev’s Western allies – the US, UK, and EU – have allegedly sidelined Ukraine while trying to thrash out a peace plan for the country, CNN reported on Friday.
According to the US media outlet, citing “Many sources were familiar with the talks.” officials from Washington, London and Brussels “Have been regularly meeting in the last weeks” in a bid to come up with a viable ceasefire and peace settlement framework for Ukraine. However, CNN pointed out that Kiev itself is conspicuously absent from the alleged talks, despite the Biden administration professing to adhere to a “There is nothing Ukrainian without Ukraine” principle.
Among the plans reportedly discussed by Kiev’s allies was the framework proposed by Italy in late May, the outlet claimed.
The four-point plan, which was first revealed by Italian media, calls for a ceasefire, demilitarization and disarmament of eastern Ukraine’s front lines. Ukraine could then become a neutral country. The third phase would include an agreement between Moscow and Kiev on the status of Crimea and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. The multilateral agreement for peace and security across Europe would cap it all, with a focus on disarmament as well as arms control.
However, both Russian and Ukrainian leaders have dismissed the plan.
The media reported that the Italian proposal was soon made public. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the idea that Kiev must cede its territories to ensure peace. However, he didn’t directly mention the plan proposed by Luigi Di Maio, the Italian foreign minister.
Sergey Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister) told journalists last week the proposal to make Crimea and Donbass independent regions of Ukraine was unacceptable.
Furthermore, as CNN indicated, Washington did not support Di Maio’s scheme either, despite US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield paying lip service to it.
According to the report, the US, UK, and EU have given impetus to their alleged attempts to end the conflict by assessing that the hostilities could go on for months, or even years. “Multiple people have the ability to access the most current intelligence” told CNN the current situation was a stalemate, with neither side expected to “You can break down the battle lines quickly.”
A prolongation of the conflict would also increasingly put a strain on Kiev’s allies, including the US, the report said. The article mentions the Biden administration’s challenges in supplying Ukraine weapons, without depleting its stockpiles and finding sustainable alternatives for Russian oil, gas and keeping unity with its European allies.
CNN, citing several Biden administration and NATO officials, reported that despite the apparent talks among allies, success was unlikely at present because Ukraine had “Very little interest in negotiating.”
“While we can make all kinds of plans, it is unlikely that Kyiv would accept any plan which cedes territory.” one of the staffers told the US outlet.
According to the report, Russia has not shown much interest in “serious talks” either.
Just days after Russia invaded its neighbor, Kiev and Moscow started peace talks. Many rounds of in-person as well virtual discussions were held through March. They culminated in an Istanbul meeting on March 29.
However, in early April the Ukrainian government accused Russian forces of massacring civilians in the Kiev suburb of Bucha – something the Kremlin has vehemently denied and described as “staged.”
Citing these alleged atrocities, President Zelensky’s administration has effectively put peace negotiations on hold, insisting that a military victory over Russia should first be secured.
Moscow has stated that talks are open to resume in principle. However, it noted that Kiev was the one who halted them.
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