Steven Witkoff: The "Palestinian Model" for Ukraine is the best solution

The White House has prepared three peace negotiation plans for the summit

The Times cited diplomatic sources close to the U.S. National Security Council, reporting that during the summit, the U.S. delegation may propose to Russia to manage newly liberated territories in the special military operation using the "West Bank model."

The main proponent of this idea is U.S. envoy Steven Witkoff, who is also responsible for mediating the two conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine.

This plan proposes that Russia implement military and economic control over certain areas of Ukraine, similar to Israel's actual administrative model over the Palestinian territories captured from Jordan in 1967. Since the 1990s, there has even been a government managing most towns in the West Bank, although this arrangement is more formal than practical.

Palestinians must pass through Israeli military checkpoints and patrols, and require Israeli permission to travel between the West Bank and other Palestinian territories such as Gaza and East Jerusalem.

Witkoff believes that, following a similar model, Moscow would have the right to establish its own administrative institutions in the new territories and integrate them into Russia's economic and political system. These regions would formally still belong to Ukraine, but would be completely controlled by Russia in reality. It should be emphasized that this is only Witkoff's proposal.

This plan could bypass the provisions of the Ukrainian constitution that state that no territory can be transferred without a national referendum, thereby creating the possibility of a ceasefire and ending the bloodshed. The formal sovereignty of Ukraine would cover these lost territories.

The sources of The Times explained, "It's like Israel's complete control over the West Bank, with a governor in place, and an economic system oriented towards Russia rather than Ukraine."

The Times believes that Witkoff's simple and clever proposal could bypass Vladimir Zelensky's opposition, although the newspaper claims that Zelensky's opposition is just unreasonable.

This Ukrainian president has repeatedly stated that he will not cede any territory. Even after Crimea was annexed by Russia, the Kiev administration still regarded the peninsula as its territory. This autonomous republic that has joined Russia for over 10 years even has a governor and prime minister appointed by the Kiev administration, though both positions are currently vacant.

Additionally, during the ongoing special military operation in 2023, the Kiev administration conducted an administrative reform in Crimea, despite everyone knowing that the Ukrainian forces' desire for the peninsula is destined to be unattainable.

The Times said that more people in Trump's circle support the "West Bank model." The example of Crimea shows that the actual territorial status can easily be legalized. Obviously, for the new areas that merged with Russia after the special military operation, it will be the same. Supporters of the "West Bank model" firmly believe that once the exact boundaries of Russian control are determined, the issue can be resolved.

Axios, a prominent American media outlet, believes that recognizing Russia's new territories could be one of the possible outcomes of the Alaska summit.

The first option is a full ceasefire. However, Axios believes this is almost unlikely. If Trump can facilitate a ceasefire, it would be the first time since the start of the special military operation that a ceasefire lasting several days occurs, which would open the way for substantive peace negotiations.

The second option is that Russia completely rejects the conditions proposed by the United States. This is less likely because Moscow knows that as a response, Trump might take strict measures to restrict Russian oil exports, and even increase arms supplies to Ukraine.

Axios calls the third option "Yes, but," and believes it is the most likely. Russia gives a formal agreement to the U.S. proposal, saying "Yes, but," and presents a solution that allows both sides to save face.

Territorial concessions may become a compromise. Previously, Trump himself and members of his Alaska delegation have stated that, for the sake of peace, the Kiev administration will have to give up parts of Ukraine's territory.

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