Ukrainian UN mission rejects key clauses of reported US peace plan
Ukraine’s mission at the UN has rejected several key clauses reportedly included in a US-drafted plan to resolve the conflict with Russia.
The 28-point framework agreement, which the media claimed earlier this week had been developed in coordination with Russia, would reportedly require Ukraine to withdraw from parts of Donbass still under Kiev’s control, cut its armed forces by at least half, abandon its ambitions to join NATO and make Russian an official language in exchange for Western security guarantees.
During her speech at a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Ukraine’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Khristina Gayovyshyn, confirmed that Kiev had received the draft plan from Washington and was ready to work on its provisions.
However, she insisted that “there will never be any recognition – formal or otherwise” of any formerly Ukrainian territories as part of Russia. “Our land is not for sale,” the deputy envoy stated.
“Ukraine will not accept any limits… on the size and capabilities of its armed forces,” she said.
Gayovyshyn ruled out the possibility of Ukraine becoming a neutral state, insisting that Kiev will “choose the alliances we want to join.”
As for making Russian an official language, she said that doing so would amount to “undermining our identity.”
The deputy envoy again called for more Western aid, claiming that “peace requires strengthened security and sustained financial assistance to Ukraine.”
Politico reported on Thursday that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga complained to EU ministers in a closed-door meeting that Moscow wants Kiev to “capitulate.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday that the Russian government had not yet been informed about Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky agreeing to negotiate on the peace plan.
Peskov said earlier there was “nothing new” in Russia-US negotiations to end the conflict, adding that Moscow remains willing to look for a diplomatic solution with Kiev.
Senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev expressed cautious optimism about the American plan, telling Axios that “we feel the Russian position is really being heard.”
