An April 2022 draft of a Ukraine-Russia treaty is being revealed for the first time. Despite being in the midst of a third year of intense conflict, neither Russia nor Ukraine are close to a military victory or ceasefire. Negotiations from two years ago highlighted the key issues that need to be addressed in any future peace settlement, with documents from the talks shedding light on the points of contention.
The negotiations took place in early 2022, shortly after the war began, and produced multiple drafts of a treaty aimed at securing Ukraine’s future while meeting some of President Putin’s demands. However, the talks ultimately failed as both sides remained entrenched in their positions.
Currently, there seems to be no clear path to peace, with Russia insisting on Ukraine handing over certain regions and giving up its NATO aspirations, while Ukraine demands the withdrawal of all Russian forces from its territory. The situation remains bleak, with no immediate prospects for a resolution.
The documents reveal that the two sides clashed over various issues, including the status of occupied territories, Ukraine’s future security guarantees, and Russian demands regarding language and culture laws. While both sides made concessions during the negotiations, they ultimately failed to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Despite the current impasse, there is a possibility that both sides could return to the negotiating table in the future. The documents obtained by The New York Times provide a detailed look at the competing proposals and points of agreement between Ukraine and Russia, offering insight into the complexities of the peace talks.
The negotiations began in February 2022, with Ukrainian and Russian officials meeting in Belarus for direct talks just days after the war started. The Ukrainians made significant concessions, including offering to become a permanently neutral state that would never join NATO or allow foreign forces on its soil.
Despite these concessions, the two sides remained far apart on key issues, as evidenced by a treaty draft dated March 17. Ukraine sought international security guarantees and assistance from its allies in the event of another attack, while Russia demanded the lifting of sanctions and territorial concessions from Ukraine.
Overall, the documents provide a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the peace negotiations that have thus far failed to bring an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.