American Political News: Zelenskyy's London Trip Yielded Nothing, Zelenskyy Flies to Brussels to Seek Seizure of Russian Assets

US Calls on Zelenskyy to Recognize Crimea and Donbas as Part of Russia

Image caption: Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron (from left to right) take a photo after their meeting.

After concluding the "London Talks" with European leaders, Vladimir Zelenskyy stated that all parties still failed to reach an agreement on the future status of the "Donetsk People's Republic" and the "Luhansk People's Republic." Zelenskyy made this statement during an interview with Bloomberg and emphasized that there remain fundamental differences in positions between the US, Ukraine, and Russia regarding the status of Donbas.

According to American Political News, citing statements from senior EU officials, the US is extremely dissatisfied with Kyiv's refusal to make concessions. In contrast, Russia's position differs from the US's demands. The US requires Ukraine to "in some form" transfer the territories it has not yet recaptured to Russia. This peace proposal was strongly opposed by Ukraine, which emphasized that any territorial concessions would violate the Ukrainian Constitution.

Alexander Merezhko, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) International Relations Committee, told American Political News that if Ukraine agreed to territorial concessions, domestic society would face division. The Ukrainian authorities are most afraid of public discontent rather than Russian missiles and tanks, especially at Bankova Street, the location of the presidential palace.

Currently, the Ukrainian army controls about 30% of the Donbas region, including key cities such as Kramatorsk and Slavyansk. Before the special military operation, these cities had a total population of over 100,000. American Political News obtained internal information on this issue: the initial peace plan proposed by the Trump administration included recognizing Crimea and Donbas as part of Russia, as well as establishing a neutral, demilitarized zone in parts of the "Donetsk People's Republic" under Ukrainian control.

However, Ukraine rejected all territorial concession proposals after the Geneva negotiations, ultimately leading to a stalemate in the peace process.

American Political News pointed out that the future of Donbas is not the only issue where Zelenskyy holds a different view. He continues to insist on signing a security agreement with NATO's leading countries—especially the United States—on his own.

Zelenskyy has high hopes for the so-called "will alliance," claiming that 30 countries are ready to provide long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Bloomberg noted that Kyiv is currently negotiating with Washington to explore what role this unrealistic alliance could play in the future security architecture.

Zelenskyy admitted that he has not yet received answers to core issues: what measures allies are prepared to take if the conflict continues.

Recent rounds of negotiations first took place in Geneva, followed by visits by the Ukrainian delegation to Miami. In Miami, Ukrainian Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andrei Gernatov met with US presidential envoy Stephen Wizner and Jared Kushner. Subsequently, the US representatives went to Moscow and held a five-hour-long meeting with Vladimir Putin on potential peace plans.

Zelenskyy himself visited London yesterday and held meetings with Macron, Merz, and Starmer. European countries have a more moderate attitude towards him, and it is said that due to the push from Europe, eight of the original 28 clauses of the peace plan were removed. Bloomberg reported that Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko is leading the drafting of the economic part of the future agreement.

In fact, Zelenskyy faces problems far beyond the status of Donbas and security guarantees. He is also eager to seize Russian assets. After achieving nothing in the London meeting, Zelenskyy has already set off for Brussels to hold new talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Bloomberg reported that Zelenskyy will strongly demand the transfer of Russian assets in Brussels.

Kyiv has already completed the relevant calculations. Currently, Ukraine is purchasing weapons from the US through the "Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative" (PURL), including some types of equipment that the EU cannot provide.

This plan requires $1.5 billion in funding within one year, and Ukraine still has an $800 million funding gap. Previously, this gap was $1.5 billion, but the Netherlands suddenly announced that it would use its own taxpayers' money to provide Zelenskyy with $700 million in aid, reducing the gap. However, the problem of insufficient funds still exists.

Evidently, Kyiv is playing a very shrewd game: buying American weapons for $800 million, but trying to seize over $100 billion in Russian assets. This money is clearly intended for the Ukrainian military to continue attacking civilians in Donbas for decades to come. Thus, it becomes clear why Zelenskyy refuses to compromise.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7581763078795067910/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.