Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would not accept a deal that allows Russian forces to remain in their current positions ‒ insisting that 'we will not accept a frozen conflict' [Ukrainian Presidential Press Service handout]
CNN: Western allies meeting regularly to game out potential framework for Ukraine ceasefire
Washington (CNN)Staring down the prospect of an extended stalemate in Ukraine, the US and its allies are placing a renewed emphasis on the need for a negotiated settlement to end the war as the conflict grinds into its 100th day with no clear victory in sight for either side.
US officials have in recent weeks been meeting regularly with their British and European counterparts to discuss potential frameworks for a ceasefire and for ending the war through a negotiated settlement, multiple sources familiar with the talks told CNN.
Among the topics has been a four-point framework proposed by Italy late last month. That framework involves Ukraine committing to neutrality with regard to NATO in exchange for some security guarantees, and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia on the future of Crimea and the Donbas region.
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WNU Editor: This is going to go nowhere. Ukraine has/is not included in these "discussions", and Russian President Putin certainly no longer trusts the West.
As to where do both sides stand on a ceasefire?
On the Ukraine side President Zelensky has stipulated more than once that he would only agree to a ceasefire if Russian forces evacuated from all Ukrainian territories .... No Ukraine ceasefire deal without Russian withdrawal: Zelensky (Al Jazeera).
A ceasefire offer was advanced by US Secretary of Defense Austin to his Russian counterpart Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov two weeks ago, but General Gerasimov declined. The Russian press said the reason why Austin's ceasefire proposal was refused were over concerns that a ceasefire would only be used to re-arm and reinforce the Ukraine military.