A top Ukrainian official has claimed that the country is ‘very near to really ending this war by a just and lasting peace’, after Ukrainians were left horrified by a report on a pro-Russian site claiming that Trump might force Kyiv into a unfavourable ceasefire by Easter.
Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff who is due to attend the Munich Security Conference next week where Trump is expected to officially unveil his plan for peace in Ukraine, made the comments to the Associated Press.
He said: ‘It’s necessary that the leaders and the experts in politics who will be in Munich realise that this is momentum.
‘That we are very near to really ending this war by a just and lasting peace, but (it’s) necessary to be together- Not to give Russia an opportunity to divide the world, to divide partners.’
Yermak added that it was imperative that Ukraine was front and centre of any ceasefire plans: ‘I think it’s important that we go through these consultations and negotiations before the (Trump) administration has any plans.
‘Our position is that it’s impossible to have, and will be a big mistake to have, any plans without participation by Ukraine in preparing this plan.’
It comes amid growing horror at reports of a leaked plan for Ukraine that would see Trump try to force Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a ceasefire with Russia by Easter.
The unconfirmed plans, reported by Ukrainian outlet Strana, which has been described as pro-Russian, are said to have been doing the rounds in ‘political and diplomatic circles’ in Ukraine, and will include a ceasefire by April 20 that would freeze Russia’s steady advance, a ban on Ukraine from joining NATO, and a demand for Kyiv to accept Russian sovereignty on annexed land.
On top of this, Ukrainian troops will be made to leave Russia’s Kursk region, where it launched a counteroffensive in August, while a contingent of European soldiers, which could include British troops, would be asked to police a demilitarised zone. American troops will not be involved in this contingent.
The EU will reportedly be asked to assist Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts, which may cost as much as $486billion (£392billion) over the next decade according to the German Marshall Fund thinktank.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has denied the existence of the ceasefire plans and the White House has yet to officially comment on the reports.
But if confirmed, it would see Zelensky and Vladimir Putin sharing a phone call within days before the warring pair meet either in late February or early March. An official ceasefire declaration would then be made on April 20.
Ukrainians on social media were horrified to learn of the alleged plans.
One said of the proposals: ‘So, Western speed bumps placed along the border and Ukraine surrenders, basically.’
Another wrote: ‘Yeah no way in hell will Ukraine accept that bulls*** plan.’
Zelensky’s office has strenuously denied the legitimacy of the peace plans.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, wrote on Telegram that they did not ‘exist in reality’, adding that such reports often disguised allegations spread by Russians.
Zelensky told media groups on Sunday: ‘Russia’s war is against Ukraine, against Europe, against the whole world, but above all, the war is waged on our land. It is impossible to exclude Ukraine from any negotiating platform.
‘Either this negotiating platform will have no real results, or it will have only political results. And such results will have nothing to do with security or the end of the war.’
He added: ‘I would really like the European voice to be there as well. It is important for us because we will be members of the European Union.
‘But I can’t say clearly today what the structure of the negotiation process will be. Because we do not have a joint plan yet.’
Russia, meanwhile, said that the US is yet to offer any substantial details on the ceasefire deal.
Moscow’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said yesterday: ‘Right now there are a lot of words, a lot of statements.
‘There is no clarity or certainty about the steps being taken. Therefore, it would be premature to discuss the prospects of negotiations or anything in general in this context… We will focus on specific steps and actions.’
Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukraine’s territory, and has held widely disregarded referendums in four regions in which they ‘voted’ to join Russia.
Zelensky previously claimed that he would never allow an acre of land to remain in Putin’s hands, but has also admitted that land may not be returned to Ukraine immediately.
