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US, Ukraine make “tremendous amount of progress on peace deal— Rubio
(MENAFN) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that Washington and Kyiv have made a “tremendous amount of progress” on a peace plan aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, while stressing that Russian approval is crucial for any deal to succeed.
Earlier reports indicated that the 28-point plan could involve de facto recognition of Russian control over Crimea and Donbass. The current frontlines in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions would be frozen, and Russia would withdraw troops from other Ukrainian territories it currently occupies. The proposal also reportedly calls for Ukraine to cap its military at roughly 600,000 troops and refrain from joining NATO.
Rubio spoke to reporters after extensive discussions in Geneva with a Ukrainian delegation, explaining that one objective was “to take … 28 points or 26 points, depending on which version… and try to narrow the ones that were open items.” While noting that “there’s still some work to be done,” he emphasized that “we made a tremendous amount of progress.”
Some issues involving EU countries and NATO were placed on a “separate track… because it involves input from them,” he said, adding that he could not disclose the remaining sticking points, calling the negotiations “very delicate.”
“Some of it is semantics or language; others require higher-level decisions and consultation; others … just need more time to work through,” he explained.
On Moscow’s position, Rubio noted: “Obviously the Russians get a vote here… we now have to take what we come up with, if we can reach that agreement with the Ukrainian side, to the Russian side. They have to agree to this in order for it to work.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Moscow has received the US peace plan but said it has not yet been examined “in detail.”
“I believe it could also form the basis of a final peace settlement,” he added, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that Russia opposes discussing the roadmap through “megaphone diplomacy.”
Earlier reports indicated that the 28-point plan could involve de facto recognition of Russian control over Crimea and Donbass. The current frontlines in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions would be frozen, and Russia would withdraw troops from other Ukrainian territories it currently occupies. The proposal also reportedly calls for Ukraine to cap its military at roughly 600,000 troops and refrain from joining NATO.
Rubio spoke to reporters after extensive discussions in Geneva with a Ukrainian delegation, explaining that one objective was “to take … 28 points or 26 points, depending on which version… and try to narrow the ones that were open items.” While noting that “there’s still some work to be done,” he emphasized that “we made a tremendous amount of progress.”
Some issues involving EU countries and NATO were placed on a “separate track… because it involves input from them,” he said, adding that he could not disclose the remaining sticking points, calling the negotiations “very delicate.”
“Some of it is semantics or language; others require higher-level decisions and consultation; others … just need more time to work through,” he explained.
On Moscow’s position, Rubio noted: “Obviously the Russians get a vote here… we now have to take what we come up with, if we can reach that agreement with the Ukrainian side, to the Russian side. They have to agree to this in order for it to work.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Moscow has received the US peace plan but said it has not yet been examined “in detail.”
“I believe it could also form the basis of a final peace settlement,” he added, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that Russia opposes discussing the roadmap through “megaphone diplomacy.”
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