Ukraine begins talks with Trump's team to end war, - WSJ
Date: 2024-12-05 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
A Ukrainian delegation has arrived in the United States for high-level talks with the Donald Trump administration, with the goal of smoothing out serious differences on the issue of settling the war with Russia before the new US president takes office.
According to The Wall Street Journal, on Wednesday, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met with Trump's special envoy for Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg and future national security adviser Mike Waltz. Vice President J.D. Vance also joined the meeting.
According to the publication's sources, Yermak visited Washington to establish relations with Trump's aides. Earlier, he also met in Florida with the new White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
"According to people familiar with the discussions, Yermak will present Ukraine as a constructive partner in achieving peace, not as an obstacle to it," the publication writes.
A person familiar with Kyiv's plans noted to the publication that Ukraine plans to declare its readiness for peace, "but it must be a sustainable peace. An unstable, temporary peace does not meet the interests of either the United States or Ukraine."
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in order for Kyiv to consider ending the war, it is necessary for the unoccupied parts of Ukraine to be offered NATO membership.
At the same time, the WSJ writes, Trump's advisers discussed peace plans that recognize Russia's seizure of about 20% of Ukrainian territory and temporarily close the possibility of Kyiv joining NATO.
"The Ukrainians are laying out their maximalist position in possible negotiations," says Lucian Kim, an analyst on Ukraine at the International Crisis Group. "They may indeed admit that NATO membership is not a question of the near future. But why should they admit it before the negotiations begin?"
He also notes that Kiev is deeply disappointed with the outgoing Biden administration.
"The arrival of the Trump administration gave people in Kyiv hope for a breakthrough. What it will look like is a question. But one thing is clear: the status quo will end," Kim says.
