Will Ukraine Modify Its Constitution for a Peace Agreement?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine will not change its Constitution as part of any peace deal.
- Key principles for negotiations include the current contact line and national leadership involvement.
- The peace plan has shifted from 28 points to 19, indicating ongoing diplomatic adjustments.
- President Zelensky is hopeful for deeper agreements and continued US cooperation.
- Moscow has agreed to some concessions, though details remain undisclosed.
Kyiv, Nov 27 (NationPress) Ukraine has firmly stated that it will not alter its Constitution as part of any prospective peace agreement, according to reports from local media, referencing a member of the Ukrainian delegation engaged in discussions with the United States, various partners, and Russia.
"We have declared that Ukraine will not endorse any recognition and will not modify the Constitution -- these are non-negotiable boundaries," remarked Oleksandr Bevz, an advisor to the head of Ukraine's presidential office, on Wednesday (local time).
He emphasized that territorial matters should be approached on two key principles: utilizing the current contact line as the foundation for negotiations and ensuring that such discussions occur at the level of national leaders, as reported by Xinhua news agency, citing the local media outlet Interfax-Ukraine.
Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential office, noted that Ukrainian and US negotiators have reached a preliminary consensus on most aspects of Washington's proposed peace framework, albeit significantly revised from the original 28 points.
On Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that this revised plan could lead to "more comprehensive agreements."
Zelensky mentioned that he has shared insights about the plan with Ukraine's negotiation team. "The tenets within this document can evolve into deeper agreements. It is in our mutual interest that security is genuine," he stated.
He expressed optimism for ongoing robust collaboration with the US.
Earlier in the day, Yermak confirmed that Ukrainian and US negotiators had reached a general agreement on most elements of the proposed peace plan, which has been notably altered from the original 28 points.
Zelensky aspires to engage directly with Trump regarding territorial matters, according to Yermak.
The original 28-point draft aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis has been condensed into a 19-point framework, drafted jointly by the United States and Ukraine during discussions in Geneva, as reported by multiple media sources.
Trump remarked in a Truth Social post that his team has made "significant progress" over the past week, noting that the original 28-point peace plan "has been refined, with additional feedback from both parties."
"Only a few points of contention remain," Trump added, mentioning that he has instructed his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week to finalize a peace deal.
"Simultaneously, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will be in discussions with Ukrainian officials," he continued.
Trump expressed his anticipation for a potential meeting with both Putin and Zelensky in the near future, but only when the peace agreement is concluded or nearing completion.
Furthermore, the US president has distanced himself from the Thursday deadline for Ukraine to endorse the US-backed peace proposal. "The deadline for me is when it's finalized," Trump stated to reporters aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Trump also mentioned that Moscow had consented to certain concessions, although he did not provide further details.