London is set to host critical behind-the-scenes talks this week that could determine whether the war in Ukraine moves toward a ceasefire or drags on indefinitely.<\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s defense minister is nearly fully aligned with US President Donald Trump\u2019s proposed cease-fire framework aimed at ending Russia\u2019s invasion, according to a senior Trump administration official quoted in The New York Post.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The plan, presented in Paris this week by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and two special envoys, is reportedly \u201c90%\u201d acceptable to Kyiv.<\/p>\n
Ukraine signals conditional support<\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s defense minister Rustem Umerov has been reviewing the Trump proposal with concerns primarily over territorial definitions in a potential cease-fire deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to the senior US official, according to The Post, Ukraine\u2019s main hesitation centers on whether the ceasefire lines would reflect a temporary military reality (\u201cde facto\u201d) or formal recognition of Russian occupation (\u201cde jure\u201d).<\/p>\n
\u201cThis coming week in London, we want to make a determination for a full and comprehensive cease-fire,\u201d the official said. \u201cThe intent then is to have [discussions] with the Russians and then say, \u2018OK, this is your best and final offer,\u2019 to find out where both sides are at.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think part of the concern they\u2019ve got is on the land \u2026 just what they call \u2018de jure\u2019 and \u2018de facto,’\u201d the Trump administration official said. \u201c\u2018De facto\u2019 mean we recognize the Russians occupy this land, but we don\u2019t say [Ukraine<\/a> is] going to give it up forever. \u2018De jure\u2019 means we acknowledge that [the Russians] take in this land and we\u2019ll never see it back again.\u201d<\/p>\n Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky<\/a> remains firm in refusing to recognize any Russian-occupied land as part of Moscow. However, he has reportedly shown openness to a ceasefire based on current front lines, which would see Russia<\/a> controlling about 20% of Ukrainian territory.<\/p>\n Russia’s response remains uncertain<\/p>\n Moscow is yet to formally respond to the Trump peace framework, and officials acknowledge the Kremlin could reject the plan altogether. In that case, the US administration is preparing to shift the burden of maintaining European security back to its allies, the news report stated.<\/p>\n \u201cTrump is ready to walk away from the table without Moscow\u2019s buy-in,\u201d the official was quoted as saying, adding that responsibility would then fall on America\u2019s European partners.<\/p>\n Incentives for Moscow: Sanctions relief and frozen assets<\/p>\n To entice Russia to the negotiating table, Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff<\/a> may offer potential incentives, the news report stated.<\/p>\n The United States may offer Moscow incentives such as sanctions relief<\/a> and partial access to the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets in European banks<\/a> to coax it to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cThe carrot, for the Russians, is a look at, \u2018How do we reduce the sanctions that are currently on the Russians?\u2019\u201d the senior official noted. \u201cThe other is, \u2018How do you handle the frozen Russian assets \u2014 that $300 billion that sits in Brussels, what happens with those, as well?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Next steps in London<\/p>\n