Russia-Ukraine talks: What terms and conditions Putin and Zelenskyy want to apply to peace

As Ukraine and Russia exchanged terms in the second round of direct talks in Turkey on Monday, the difference between the two sides’ positions was clear.

While Ukraine sought an immediate ceasefire and security guarantees safeguarding the country from future Russian aggression, Russia pressed for the legal recognition of all territories it has occupied and claimed to have annexed in Ukraine. It has also sought Ukraine’s stated neutrality.

The Ukrainian terms were reported by Financial Times and Russian terms were reported by state-run TASS news agency.

Most of the Russian terms comprise maximalist demands made by Russian leader Vladimir Putin throughout the war, such as capping the post-war size of Ukrainian military, seeking sociolegal changes in post-war Ukraine, and a halt on Western military assistance to Ukraine.

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Even though Ukraine and Russia are holding direct talks, no breakthrough has been made so far. As Russia stands more emboldened than ever, thanks to US President Donald Trump’s tacit support, it has ramped up aerial attacks on Ukraine lately, launching hundreds of missiles and drones on a near-daily basis. Ukraine on Sunday stunned the world by launching a drone attack on five Russian airbases. Ukraine claimed to have destroyed 41 Russian long-range bombers and one airborne early warning and command centre (AEWAC) aircraft — nearly a third of the Russian long-range bomber fleet and losses to the tune of $7 billion.

Ukraine’s demands ceasefire, security guarantees

In the five-part memorandum submitted to Russia, Ukraine has stressed some longstanding demands, such as an immediate ceasefire, security guarantees, and the involvement of the United States and European powers in enforcing the peace deal.

In what is bound to be rejected by Russia as well as the Trump administration, Ukraine has also said that it should be allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) at some point in the future.

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In part one, ‘Key Principles of the Agreement and the Negotiation Process’, Ukraine lists the following conditions:

• Full and unconditional ceasefire in the sky, on land, and at sea as a background and necessary prerequisite for negotiations peace.

• Confidence-building measures addressing humanitarian issues: unconditional return of deported and illegally-displaced Ukrainian children, the exchange of all prisoners as per the ‘all for all’ principle, and release by Russia of all civilian hostages.

• Non-repetition of aggression: The restoration on a permanent basis of lasting peace and security and to ensure that aggression does not occur again.

• Security guarantees: Ukraine must receive robust security guarantees. Both the parties will invite the international community to participate in the negotiations and provide guarantees to ensure the implementation of the agreements.

• Sovereignty: Ukraine is not forced to be neutral and can choose to be part of the European Union (EU) or Nato. No restrictions must be imposed on Ukraine’s military or the deployment of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil.

• Territorial issues: Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia since 2014 is not given legal recognition by the international community. The question of land must be discussed only after full and unconditional ceasefire.

• Sanctions: Sanctions may be lifted in stages with the provisions to re-impose sanctions if required. Frozen Russian assets should be used for Ukraine’s reconstructions or should remain frozen until Russia pays off reparations.

In part two, Ukraine said that the two sides should work towards agreeing to a ceasefire and arranging a meeting between the two countries’ leaders

After the second round of talks, the two sides should work towards: (1) full and unconditional ceasefire: modalities and monitoring; (2) confidence building measures; (3) preparation, agreeing agenda and structure of future leaders" negotiations on key topics.
Such talks should be held in the presence of the United States and European powers.

The part three addresses the question of ceasefire.

• Full and unconditional ceasefire in the sky, on land, and at sea for at least for 30 days with the possibility of rolling extensions every 30 days as a necessary background and prerequisite for peace negotiations to continue.

• The monitoring for ceasefire led by the US and supported by third countries.

The part four deals with confidence-building measures.

After the initial exchange of prisoners of war, all prisoners on both sides must be exchanged. The unconditional return of all deported and displaced Ukrainian children and release by Russia of all civilian prisoners. These measures should include all categories of persons listed starting from February 2014.

The part five looks into the meeting of Ukrainian and Russian leaders for the signing of final peace deal with these final terms: 1) Permanent and complete cessation of hostilities: conditions, monitoring, sanctions for violations 2) Security guarantees and non- repetition of aggression 3) Territorial issues 4) Economy, compensation, reconstruction 5) Penalties for breach of agreements 6) Conclusion of a final peace agreement

Russia sticks to maximalist terms

In the three-part proposal, Russia has pressed its maximalist demands that essentially amount to Ukraine’s surrender and the erosion of its neutrality.

State-run TASS’ Russian service has reported the following terms in Russian proposal.

Part 1. Settlement terms

• International recognition of Russian occupation of Crimea, Donbas, and Novorossiya.

• Respect of full rights, freedoms, and interests of Russian speakers in Ukraine, including making Russian an official language and banning the purported glorification and propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism.

• The lifting of all restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

• Ukraine’s neutrality and refusal to join military alliances and coalitions and a ban on foreign troops in Ukrainian territory.

• Ukraine banned from hosting or developing a nuclear weapon.

• Imposing limits on Ukraine’s military, weapons, and equipment after the war.

• The lifting of all Ukrainian sanctions on Russia.

• The phased restoration of diplomatic and economic relations with Ukraine, including gas transit.

Part 2. Ceasefire terms

In this part, Russia has presented two options to Ukraine.

As per the first option, Ukraine will completely withdraw from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions — the four regions that Russia has annexed but does not fully control. A 30-day ceasefire is established from the moment the Ukraine starts withdrawal and such withdrawal must be completed within 30 days.

As per the second option, the ceasefire will involve a ban on the redeployment of the Ukrainian military with the exception of movements for withdrawal to an agreed distance from what Russia classifies as its borders. During this period, Western arms supplies and intelligence-sharing will be stopped.

Additionally, Russia has made following demands:

• Martial law will be cancelled, no fresh mobilisation will take place, and forces mustered so far will demobilised.

• A bilateral Ceasefire Monitoring and Control Center will be set up.

• So-called nationalist formations will be disbanded in Ukraine.

• Ukraine to grant amnesty to “political prisoners” and the release detained servicemen and civilians.

Part 3. Final peace treaty.

In this phase, the final ceasefire deal will be signed.

The ceasefire will come with presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine with 100 days of the deal being signed.

The Ukraine-Russia peace deal will require a legally binding approval from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).