"I would give anything in the world if, in this address, I could say that peace will also come in just a few minutes, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a message to the Ukrainian people released just before midnight on New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, I cannot say that yet. Zelenskyy said a peace agreement was 90% ready, but added something that subverted Donald Trump's constant claims that a deal is just around the corner. Those 10% contain, in fact, everything, he said."
"The talks were kicked off by the leaking of a peace plan drafted by Russia and the US. Washington told Zelenskyy that Ukraine would have to give up the Donbas region, while the US army secretary, Dan Driscoll, gathered diplomats from Nato countries in Kyiv for what one person present described as a nightmare meeting to tell them Ukraine should sign up to the deal now or face a worse one in future."
Peace remains elusive despite claims that an agreement is 90% complete; the remaining 10% contains decisive conditions that block a final deal. A leaked peace plan drafted by Russia and the US demanded Ukraine cede the Donbas region. Washington pressured Kyiv to accept that plan, warning a worse deal could follow; diplomats described the meeting as a nightmare. European allies helped block the draft and work began with the US on a new plan. Russia has signalled it will only sign an agreement addressing its stated 'root causes' demands. Ukrainians continue to face winter power cuts, air raids, and separated families.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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