"Ukraine will not agree to any terms recognizing Russian-controlled territories, nor will it amend its constitution. These are red lines for us," Oleksandr Bevz, an advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine, commented on 26/11 regarding the prospect of signing a peace agreement with Russia.

Bevz is a member of the negotiating team with the US and partners on the 28-point peace plan proposed by president Donald Trump. This plan presents many disadvantages for Ukraine, such as forcing the country to transfer the Donbass region to Russia in exchange for long-term security guarantees. It also requires Kyiv to limit the size of its military and abandon long-range weapons, as well as amend its constitution, eliminating its aspiration to join NATO.

Oleksandr Bevz, advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine. *Photo: RBC-Ukraine*

On 23/11, Bevz and other senior Ukrainian officials met with the US side in Geneva to discuss this plan, with the participation of European representatives. Following the talks, the Financial Times reported that the draft had been reduced to 19 points, while president Trump later said the plan had 22 points remaining.

The advisor to president Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that all territorial provisions in a peace agreement must be based on two principles: using the current front line as the basis for negotiations, and ensuring all territorial discussions take place at the head-of-state level. He noted Kyiv's position on territorial integrity is "uncompromising."

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated that the Ukrainian and US negotiating teams had reached "in principle" agreement on the majority of the content in the peace plan proposed by Washington. President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on 25/11 that the updated draft after the consultation round in Geneva could become the foundation for "more detailed content."

Ukrainian and US officials have not yet disclosed which terms were removed from the initial draft after the recent negotiation efforts. Moskva has repeatedly stated that Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO, as well as the alliance's eastward expansion, is the root cause of the war, which has lasted over three years.

Thanh Danh (According to RBC-Ukraine, Xinhua)