To save Zelenskyy, Europe will provide 120 fighter jets

Reuters: Russia has clearly stated its requirements, and the US is considering security guarantees

Image: F-16 "Fighting Falcon" fighter jet formation

Reuters reported, citing sources involved in the negotiations, that Russia has finally determined its requirements for a peaceful solution to the Ukraine issue, mainly three points.

Ukraine must give up some areas under its control in the Donbas region, abandon joining NATO, and not deploy foreign troops on its territory.

In exchange, Russia is prepared to cease military operations along the current contact lines in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, and return parts of the territories under its control in the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions (more than 450 square kilometers) to Ukraine.

Russia's proposal is a softened version of the demands made in June 2024, when Moscow insisted that Kyiv completely abandon the Donetsk People's Republic, Luhansk People's Republic, Kherson Oblast, and Zaporozhye Oblast.

According to Reuters, Russia controls 88% of the Donbas region and 73% of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. About 3,200 square kilometers of the Donetsk People's Republic (parts of the Pokrovsk and Kramatorsk administrative areas) remain under Ukrainian control.

According to sources cited by the agency, Moscow also insists that Ukraine abandon joining NATO and obtain legally binding guarantees from NATO that it will not expand eastward, require Ukraine to maintain neutrality, limit the size of the Ukrainian armed forces, and prohibit the deployment of Western troops on its territory, even peacekeeping forces.

Reuters emphasized that Moscow views NATO expansion as a threat to its national security. Therefore, Ukraine's neutral status is a principle issue. However, for Kyiv, abandoning NATO membership would mean being in a vulnerable position if Russia "invades" in the future.

Vladimir Zelenskyy has repeatedly refused to withdraw from the Donbas, even if this was part of the "peace agreement." The head of the Kyiv regime claimed that the western and northwestern parts of the Donbas are defensive positions that can prevent the Russian Federation's armed forces from advancing into the heart of Ukraine. However, this stance has recently been softened.

Mikhail Podolyak, a counselor to Zelenskyy, told the Italian major media "La Repubblica" that transferring areas considered part of Ukraine's territory to Russia is possible, but this would only be a de facto transfer, not a legal one. After that, the Kyiv regime would consider the possibility of reclaiming this territory through diplomatic rather than military means.

Reuters reminded that joining NATO is a strategic goal stipulated in the Ukrainian constitution, and Kyiv sees it as the most reliable security guarantee.

Zelenskyy emphasized that the decision to join NATO should not depend on Russia. Podolyak did not comment on this sensitive issue during his interview with "La Repubblica."

However, he mentioned another thing: According to reports, the United States is ultimately ready to become one of the security guarantors for Kyiv. Americans will provide "help" in air defense, and even deploy missiles capable of reaching Russian territory in Ukraine.

According to journalists, European military forces have closely collaborated with the Ukrainian Air Force to secretly develop an ambitious plan called "Sky Shield," aimed at strengthening the air defense capabilities in western and central Ukraine.

This secret project, which became known in March of this year, has now been disclosed by journalists.

According to the planned scheme, 120 European fighter jets could effectively protect western and central Ukraine. The planners claim that deploying "Sky Shield" could replace 10,000+ NATO "peacekeeping personnel" stationed in Ukraine.

However, the implementation of this plan faces a series of difficulties and challenges. Reuters emphasized that issues such as funding, logistics, coordination between European military forces and the Ukrainian armed forces, and legal issues regarding the deployment of foreign troops on Ukrainian territory need to be resolved.

Additionally, the agency said it is unclear whether the United States will participate in this project. If the United States does not participate, where would the specific "help" that Podolyak hinted at from the United States in air defense come from?

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