Ukraine risks ‘losing a key partner’ with Trump’s peace proposal, Zelensky says • FRANCE 24

Key Concepts:

• US-proposed peace plan for Ukraine
• Territorial concessions
• Reduction of Ukraine's army size
• Barring Ukraine from NATO
• Ukrainian diplomatic strategy
• Maintaining dignity and avoiding accusations of obstructing peace
• Sovereignty and alliance choices
• Incompetence of the Donald Trump administration
• Misunderstandings in US policy on Ukraine
• JD Vance's support for the plan
• Ukrainian strategy to influence US policy shifts
• Distraction from domestic corruption scandals

Summary:

The transcript discusses Ukraine's response to a new peace plan proposed by the United States. This plan, which has already received backing from Russian President Vladimir Putin, includes several of Russia's long-standing demands. These demands encompass significant territorial concessions from Ukraine, a reduction in the size of Ukraine's army, and a prohibition on Ukraine joining NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not outright rejected the plan, but he has characterized Ukraine's situation as an "impossible choice" between losing its dignity or losing a key partner. The US is reportedly pushing for Ukraine to provide a response by Thanksgiving.

Ukrainian Diplomatic Strategy:

Correspondent Guliver Craig, speaking from Kyiv, provided insight into President Zelensky's strategy. The core of this strategy, as articulated by Zelensky, is to avoid being perceived as the party that refuses diplomacy, does not want peace, or acts as an obstacle to peace. This is why Ukraine is publicly stating its willingness to discuss the plan and appearing to consider it. Craig suggests this is a diplomatic stance rather than a genuine willingness to accept the plan, which would entail substantial losses for Ukraine.

Key Demands and Red Lines:

The plan's demands go beyond territorial losses, impacting Ukraine's sovereignty. Specifically, it affects Ukraine's rights regarding:

• Alliance choices: The ability to join alliances like NATO.
• Internal policies: The freedom to set its own domestic policies.
• Armed forces size: Limitations on the size of its military.

These are considered "red lines" for Ukrainians. Zelensky's approach is to avoid making loud, public pronouncements about these red lines or expressing outrage. Instead, he is adopting a highly diplomatic stance. This is likely in the hope that the plan is more flexible than it currently appears and that further details will emerge.

US Policy and Misunderstandings:

The transcript also touches upon the development of the US plan, attributing some of its creation to the "incompetence of the Donald Trump administration" and "misunderstandings." It suggests that these factors led to an "about turn" in US policy on Ukraine. Previously, Donald Trump had expressed disappointment in Putin and acknowledged Ukraine's potential to reclaim occupied territory. The narrative suggests the US was "almost tricked" into presenting this plan.

However, the US administration, particularly with figures like JD Vance (referred to as Vice President, though this may be a misstatement in the transcript, as Vance is a Senator), has rallied around the plan and spoken out against European condemnation.

Zelensky's Tactical Approach:

Given this context, Zelensky understands that now is not the time to condemn the plan. His current objective is to emphasize Ukraine's commitment to diplomacy and to work towards persuading the Americans to change their stance again.

Domestic Considerations:

An important, albeit secondary, aspect of Zelensky's strategy is to use this critical international moment to divert attention from a recent corruption scandal and demands for political changes within Ukraine.

Conclusion:

The overarching takeaway is that Ukraine is navigating a complex diplomatic challenge. President Zelensky is employing a strategy of public diplomacy and measured responses to a US-backed peace plan that heavily favors Russian demands. This strategy aims to avoid international blame for obstructing peace, preserve Ukraine's core sovereignty, and potentially influence a shift in US policy. Simultaneously, the situation is being leveraged to manage domestic political pressures.