Bloomberg: US and Russia are drafting a Ukraine peace agreement, possibly recognizing Russian-controlled territories

Reuters cited Bloomberg on the 8th, reporting that the United States and Russia are seeking to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine and recognize the territories occupied by Moscow since the start of its military invasion.

According to the report, citing sources, US and Russian officials are negotiating territorial compromise proposals and plan to facilitate a summit between US President Trump and Russian President Putin, which could take place as early as next week.

The White House said Bloomberg's report is "speculation," and the Kremlin has not responded to requests for comment.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy posted on multiple social media platforms that he noticed a "consensus" forming among all parties to end the war, but did not comment on Bloomberg's specific report. Reuters is currently unable to independently verify the information.

Putin has formally claimed sovereignty over four regions in Ukraine - Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson - as well as Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, but Russian forces have not fully controlled all the areas claimed.

The Ukrainian side previously stated that it may be willing to show some flexibility in ending the war. However, losing about 20% of its territory would pose a major political challenge for Zelenskyy and his government.

Bloomberg reported that the proposed agreement may include Russia halting attacks along the current front lines in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.

Since returning to the White House this January, Trump has sought to improve relations with Moscow and push for an end to the war, despite his mixed public comments on Putin, sometimes praising him and at other times sharply criticizing him.

Facing Putin's firm stance, Trump has threatened to impose new sanctions on Russia and countries purchasing Russian exports as early as this Friday, unless Putin agrees to end the war, which has lasted for three and a half years and has become the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. However, it remains uncertain whether these sanctions will actually be implemented, postponed, or canceled before the upcoming Trump-Putin summit (possibly held in the UAE).

US presidential envoy Witko met with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday for three hours, and both sides described the meeting as "constructive."

"Some signs have appeared"

Poland's Prime Minister, a close ally of Ukraine, Donald Tusk, said earlier on the 8th after meeting with Zelenskyy that the conflict might soon see a pause.

Tusk told reporters, "We see some signs and also have a sense that the freezing of the conflict - I'm not saying the end, but the freezing - is no longer far away." "We have hope for this."

Tusk also said that Zelenskyy is "very cautious but optimistic," and that Ukraine hopes Poland and other European countries will participate in the preparation of a ceasefire and future peace agreements.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1839931802607753/

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