Reuters: US and Ukraine discuss possible peace deal in March, but deadline not final
Delegations from the United States and Ukraine have discussed an ambitious goal of concluding a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement in March. However, the timeline may be pushed back as there is still no consensus on territorial issues.
Source: Reuters
Details: Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that US and Ukrainian delegations had discussed a March deadline as an ambitious target for reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
However, the deadline is likely to be missed, as there is still no agreement on territorial issues.
According to Reuters, preliminary discussions also included the idea of putting a potential agreement to a referendum, to be held alongside elections in Ukraine.
Quote: "The US negotiating team – led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner – has expressed to Ukrainian counterparts in recent meetings in Abu Dhabi and Miami that it would be best if that vote occurred soon, three of those sources said."
Details: Two other sources told Reuters that Trump is likely to focus more on domestic issues as congressional elections approach in November. This would mean senior US officials may have less time and political capital to devote to finalising a peace agreement.
Two sources also said that US and Ukrainian officials had discussed the possibility of holding national elections and a referendum in May.
However, several people familiar with the talks described the US-proposed timetable as unrealistic.
Ukrainian election authorities estimate that organising elections would take around six months under current conditions.
Background:
- According to a communiqué on the outcome of the trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi on 4-5 February, the US, Ukrainian and Russian delegations discussed methods for implementing a ceasefire and monitoring the cessation of hostilities.
- Following the Abu Dhabi talks, the US and Russia have agreed to resume high-level military dialogue.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the next round of negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine will be held soon, but it will not take place in the US.
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