The U.S. has proposed a peace plan for Russia and Ukraine, however the EU has already indicated it will not settle for the deal.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Military Secretary Dan Driscoll met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv at the moment. A key a part of that assembly was presenting a draft plan of a U.S.-Russia peace deal. It requires Ukraine to surrender all land within the japanese a part of the nation to Russia. The European Union already has indicated that it is troubled by this plan. One official known as it capitulation. NPR’s Tom Bowman is following this and joins us now. Hello there.
TOM BOWMAN, BYLINE: Hey, Juana.
SUMMERS: Tom, I’ve to say, this looks as if it form of got here out of nowhere. So inform us when you can, how did this draft plan come about?
BOWMAN: Yeah, it did. It was drafted by Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart, businessman Kirill Dmitriev, in Miami lately, and it was leaked, the People imagine, by the Russians. I have been advised about some components of the plan by a supply not approved to talk. And once more, the proposal seems to offer Russia the whole lot they need and extra. Proper now, the Russians management about 88% of the japanese Donbas area, and this proposal, Juana, provides all of them that land.
Additionally, Britain and different European nations had deliberate on sending troops to supervise a peace settlement. That proposal says that won’t occur. These are among the many causes the French overseas minister mentioned peace can’t be a capitulation. And it is doubtless different European allies will balk at this plan as properly.
SUMMERS: Nicely, what about President Zelenskyy? What has he needed to say?
BOWMAN: Nicely, after the assembly with Military Secretary Dan Driscoll, for an hour or so, Zelenskyy launched a press release that was fairly conciliatory, saying they agreed to work on the plan’s provisions to finish the battle. One other U.S. official not approved to talk publicly tells us that Driscoll and Zelenskyy agreed – get this – on an aggressive timeline for signature. So it appears that is all shifting fairly shortly, regardless of the considerations of European allies. However it’s vital to notice Zelenskyy has lengthy dominated out any territorial concessions to Russia. It seems now, with very sturdy U.S. strain on him, he is lastly helped – you already know, goes to assist deliver this battle to an finish.
SUMMERS: Tom, as you talked about, this proposal was drafted by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff. What comes subsequent for him?
BOWMAN: Witkoff is slated to hitch talks subsequent week in Istanbul with Zelenskyy and Turkish President Erdogan, which won’t solely embody peace talks but additionally prisoner alternate talks. Turkey has maintained contact with each Russia and Ukraine, however no Russian consultant is anticipated to participate in these talks. I am additionally advised Military Secretary Driscoll and a number of other U.S. generals might be assembly with Russian officers within the coming weeks to speak about this proposed peace plan.
SUMMERS: Tom, one factor that form of stands out right here is that we now have the Military secretary in these high-level conferences with the top of state. It isn’t, say, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and even Vice President JD Vance. Is that typical?
BOWMAN: No, it is not. I’ve by no means heard of a army service secretary main such conferences. Now, Driscoll had already deliberate to be in Ukraine to speak together with his counterparts about drones and classes realized from the Ukraine battle. So the White Home requested him to assist jump-start peace talks. And the sense is he may extra simply relate to Ukrainian army officers, speak about their wants, since Driscoll is an Iraq fight veteran. He is additionally of – the previous Yale Faculty Regulation (ph) roommate of Vice President JD Vance, in order that has helped his profile as properly. I am advised they speak virtually every single day. And by the way in which, Juana, there’s widespread hypothesis that if Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth leaves, Driscoll might be tapped to steer the Pentagon.
SUMMERS: One very last thing, shortly, Tom, you have talked about that the battle is nearly coming into its fourth 12 months. What is the state of affairs on the bottom like now?
BOWMAN: Nicely, Russia is pummeling Ukraine, together with Kyiv, with rockets and drones. Russian troops are making some positive factors within the east. It has been a battle of attrition for a very long time. I lately requested a Western diplomat, what’s the very best situation for Ukraine? And he mentioned, freezing the battle strains within the east. However once more, this proposal provides all of the japanese land to Russia.
SUMMERS: NPR’s Tom Bowman, thanks.
BOWMAN: You are welcome.
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