American ceasefire plan for Ukraine meets European resistance
American proposals regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine, as reported by Reuters, include recognizing Crimea as part of Russia. In response, European countries and Ukraine propose security guarantees for Kyiv, modelled after NATO's Article 5.
According to Reuters, the American proposals were presented during talks in Paris and London, attended by representatives from the U.S., European countries, and Ukraine.
The special envoy of the U.S. President, Steve Witkoff, presented the proposals to Europeans in Paris, which were then conveyed to the Ukrainian side. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described these proposals as "broad frameworks" aiming to highlight the differences between the parties.
Details of American proposals
The American proposals include the U.S.'s de jure recognition of Russia's control over Crimea and de facto control over the occupied parts of four Ukrainian regions: Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk.
Furthermore, Ukraine would receive security guarantees from European countries and other states but would not seek NATO membership. The proposals also include lifting sanctions imposed on Russia after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
European counterproposals
On the other hand, the document resulting from the talks in London, handed to the American side, does not mention recognizing Russian control over any Ukrainian territory. It proposes that discussions on territorial matters occur after a ceasefire is agreed upon.
This document stipulates no restrictions for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and allied troops stationed on its territory. The United States would also be among the countries offering guarantees to Ukraine.
Compensation and frozen assets
European proposals also foresee compensation for Ukraine for damages caused by the Russian invasion, which would be financed from frozen Russian assets abroad. Witkoff's document mentions compensation but does not specify the funding sources.
