Ukraine is currently hosting pivotal discussions with security advisers as it aims to finalize a peace deal amid ongoing tensions with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that representatives from approximately 15 countries, alongside officials from the European Union and NATO, will participate in the talks. A U.S. delegation is set to join via video link. Following these discussions, a gathering of the so-called “coalition of the willing” is expected to take place in France next week.
The renewed peace efforts arise after Zelensky indicated in his New Year’s Eve address that a U.S.-mediated negotiation plan is “90 percent” complete, although he acknowledged that significant territorial disputes remain unresolved. Currently, Russia occupies nearly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory and has subjected Ukraine to nearly continuous missile and drone strikes, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the displacement of millions.
Ukraine has maintained that Russia is uninterested in peace, asserting that Moscow is deliberately undermining diplomatic initiatives to expand its territorial claims over Ukraine. Recent analyses indicate that Russia gained significant amount of territory in 2023, marking its most notable advances since it launched a full-scale invasion in 2022.
In contrast, Moscow has accused Ukraine of carrying out a “terrorist attack” following a deadly strike on a hotel in Kherson that claimed 28 lives during New Year celebrations. Russia has threatened unspecified “consequences,” but Ukrainian officials insist the strike was aimed at a military assembly closed to civilians.
As peace talks evolve, significant humanitarian initiatives are underway. Ukraine has ordered the evacuation of over 3,000 children and their families from frontline areas, particularly in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where Russian advancements have been noted. Since June, more than 150,000 individuals have been evacuated from these perilous zones.
Amidst this backdrop of unrest, authorities in Kharkiv reported more civilian casualties from aerial strikes, including a tragic incident that led to the death of a three-year-old child. Reports indicated that a recent barrage had turned residential buildings into ruins, highlighting the persistent danger to civilians.
Under the current U.S.-backed peace proposal, Ukraine would have to yield parts of the eastern Donbas region and refrain from joining NATO, while Zelensky has managed to secure some concessions, primarily the removal of provisions that would recognize territory seized by Russia as part of its own.
Recent military analyses reveal that the Russian army captured more than 5,600 square kilometers of Ukrainian land in 2023, representing a significant portion of the territory gained since the conflict escalated. These advances are said to be greater than those achieved in the previous two years combined, although they fall short of the initial year of the invasion when Moscow seized over 60,000 square kilometers.
President Vladimir Putin has continuously communicated to the Russian public his intent to occupy any remaining Ukrainian territory he has claimed should diplomatic negotiations falter.
In a related development, Zelensky has reshuffled his cabinet ahead of the upcoming summit in France. He has appointed Mikhailo Fedorov, currently serving as the Minister of Digital Transformation, to the defense ministry, though no reasons were provided for the replacement of Denys Shmygal. Furthermore, military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov has been selected to lead Zelensky’s presidential office, succeeding Andriy Yermak, who resigned following a corruption investigation.
Zelensky emphasized the need for a heightened focus on security and diplomatic negotiations amid these turbulent times, highlighting Budanov’s experience as crucial for advancing Ukraine’s security strategy. Budanov has accepted the nomination, pledging to continue serving the nation.
