US pushes peace plan for Ukraine: No NATO, a demilitarized zone in Donbas and gas for the EU

The United States is pushing a peace plan for Ukraine that involves concessions to Russia. It provides for a demilitarized zone in Donbas and for Ukraine giving up on joining NATO. This is reported by The Economist, citing Ukrainian officials.

The US proposals also include easing sanctions against Russia and an investment package for Kyiv. A new element, it is said, is the possible resumption of Russian gas supplies to the European Union, including through Nord Stream.

As The Economist describes it, in exchange for giving up NATO, Ukraine is offered an investment package and EU membership. The account of the plan does not say what accession terms are envisaged or when they would take effect.

Ukrainian outlets, retelling The Economist's article, also speak of a demilitarized zone in Donbas and weaker sanctions against Russia.

For Russia, according to the same information, the plan envisages a demilitarized zone in the part of Donbas it has not captured, weaker sanctions and the restoration of economic ties with the West. Russian companies would be able to do deals with American companies, and political relations with Moscow would be normalized.

If sanctions are indeed eased, this could also affect Belarusian enterprises that depend on Russian supplies and financial flows. Which measures will make it into the plan is not yet known.

The Ukrainian official cited by The Economist speaks of fears that, for some of the participants in the talks, economic interests will outweigh a lasting peace. According to him, Ukrainian negotiators are afraid that Donald Trump's envoys will strike profitable deals with Russia before terms acceptable to Ukraine for ending the war and security guarantees have been defined.

This is how he conveyed the American side's position as he sees it: "From their point of view, why wait and waste time. Time is money."

US pressure on Ukraine continues, making relations between the two countries more strained. At the same time, Washington is trying to resume talks on a peace agreement as soon as possible.

Ukrainian outlets boil the proposal down to an exchange: Ukraine gives up NATO in return for the EU and the lifting of sanctions on Russia.