As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears a three-year mark, there are signs that the war may be nearing an end. The new US administration is pushing forward with its peace plan, but Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow have different interpretations of what this “peace” might represent.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the first time at this week’s Munich Security Conference, marking a potential start to negotiations. However, expectations in Kyiv are cautious, with Ukrainians demanding “justice” rather than just a ceasefire.
Deputy head of the parliamentary group of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party Evheniia Kravchuk says that Putin’s expectations have not changed, and Ukraine does not trust Russia’s intentions. She warns that even if a ceasefire is agreed upon, it may not last, as Russia will regroup and come back in a few years.
Ukraine’s biggest concern is whether Kyiv will be forced to concede its territory, particularly the border region of Kursk, which gives Ukraine more leverage in negotiations. Security guarantees are key to any possible deal, with Ukraine seeking NATO membership or nuclear missiles as protection.
The presidential office and Zelenskyy himself later reiterate that Ukraine does not plan to return to nuclear weapons, but seeks a stronger security guarantee from the US. Kravchuk emphasizes that unity among Ukraine’s allies is crucial in ending the war, as Russia fears disunited partners.
While there are no immediate breakthroughs expected from the meetings at the Munich Security Conference, some ideas will be put forward by the new administration. The conference marks a start to the negotiations, which may bring an end to what US President Donald Trump calls a “senseless war that is causing massive casualties and destruction.”
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/02/13/ukraines-negotiating-conundrum-ceasefire-concessions-and-more-sacrifice