Peace is coming according to Washington notes

According to diplomatic sources, the Americans should have a ready plan to end the war in Ukraine. I count on the recognition of the annexation of Crimea and I reject Ukraine's membership in NATO. The Americans are not aware of the Russian occupation of four Ukrainian regions, but they will not demand a Russian statement from them.

When it was heard from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the Trump administration is ready to "back off" from its peace efforts regarding the conflict in Ukraine, if there is no progress on this issue, it can be assessed more as pressure on Ukraine and Europe than on the Kremlin.

The Americans probably pushed the saw in this regard at Friday's meeting with European allies and Ukrainians in Paris. If their will is not done, there should also have been a warning about the complete cessation of American military support in Ukraine, including the transfer of intelligence information.

Ukraine is in a tricky situation: the loss of American aid would be fatal for it. Europe will not replace it. It does not have sufficient military capabilities, and it must also deal with serious economic problems and avert a tariff war with the US. Political instability in France, Germany and Britain is also a problem.

And if it defies the Europeans, it could lead to Trump leaving Ukraine to its fate and continuing to deal with the Russians in business and global problems that interest him. For Europe, it would be a political disaster.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that Ukraine agrees with Trump's plan 90 percent. What the remaining 10 percent represents is unknown - there is speculation about American pressure for domestic political changes, including the departure of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainians also have their hands tied by a mineral agreement with the US, if they want to "win" at least somewhat acceptable conditions, they must play into the hands of the Americans.

The content of Trump's plan is that the Americans and Russians can already agree on everything essential and get the approval of Kiev and Europe. Part of the diplomatic maneuvers could have been Putin's Easter ceasefire, which Zelensky eventually agreed to, and he also wanted to extend it. But Russia's reaction was clear: it has already resumed combat operations against Ukraine.

What is certain is that this week they will continue the feverish negotiations. At the next meeting in London, he expects the Ukrainian response to the American plan to end the war. If it is positive, Steve Witkoff is to head to Moscow for negotiations again. And Trump added that he hopes that Russia and Ukraine will reach an agreement this week. Then, according to Trump, both sides "will do big deals with the US that will prosper and make a fortune." Simply transactional security in practice.

Miloš Balabán, Právo Daily