Ukraine has drawn up a series of red lines as the US tries to hammer out a ceasefire deal with Russia, The Independent understands.
After three years of war, the world is waiting to see if the 30-day plan accepted by Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday will find common ground with Vladimir Putin.
High-level Ukrainian sources briefed on the ongoing talks are warning there is little trust that Russia will accept a reasonable deal, adding: “We expect another trick.”
Despite Donald Trump describing “good and productive” talks with Russia on Friday, Putin has been accused of using delaying tactics by raising “nuances” and further questions as well as suggesting that Ukraine would not be permitted to rearm, mobilise or receive Western military aid during the truce.
But Ukraine is understood to be clear on several key areas of negotiation if the war is to stop. They include:
Ukrainian officials are concerned that Russia’s stalling is nothing more than a “game from their side”.
“We are really willing to make peace, but we need a long-lasting peace, not a short ceasefire. We do not want our children fighting this battle,” said the senior source, who cannot be named as they are not permitted to speak to the media.
“Putin is playing games. We have made a strong move – now it is his turn.
“We have proved we are reasonable; we are willing to have peace – if Russia doesn’t agree, the whole world will see they are liars.”
One key point of contention is the return of tens of thousands of children, whom Ukraine says have been abducted to Russia as part of an effort to erase the country’s identity.
Kyiv claims that it knows of at least 20,000 children that have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians since the war began, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the UN treaty definition of genocide.
Another issue is Putin’s demands that in any deal, Ukraine cede the entirety of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk which have been partially occupied by Russian military since 2014.
In the months after the full-scale 2022 invasion, Moscow “annexed” these regions by holding referendums in the areas they occupied, which were widely dismissed by the international community as illegal and coerced.
The US secretary of state Marco Rubio said there had been talk of territorial concessions in the negotiations with Ukraine this week and has previously said Kyiv must expect to give up land.
