Turkish-backed proposal offers peace plan for Ukraine conflict freeze, nuclear restraint

Novaya Gazeta claims that the proposed peace deal endorsed by President Erdogan aims to halt the Ukraine conflict and prevent nuclear weapon deployment and suggests holding referendums in 2040, among other measures

Novaya Gazeta Europe has received information about a proposed peace agreement to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

This agreement, which has the support of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focuses on freezing the conflict and refraining from the use of nuclear weapons.

A reliable source familiar with the proposal stated that Russia and Ukraine are reviewing the draft text.

The proposed peace plan is based on initial discussions that took place shortly after the start of the war in 2022.

The plan is expected to garner the support of several European politicians and will also be presented to countries in the Global South.

The draft treaty outlines several key points

• A commitment from the U.S. and Russia to refrain from using nuclear weapons under any circumstances. The treaty also includes a provision to revive the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (Start III), with a clause preventing unilateral withdrawal.
• A pledge to avoid interfering in another country’s internal affairs in a manner that could destabilize its government.
• The freezing of the conflict along the current front line.
• Plans for referendums to be held in 2040: a national referendum in Ukraine on the country’s foreign policy, and internationally supervised referendums in all Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia at the time the conflict was halted.
• A guarantee of Ukraine’s non-aligned status until 2040.
• The exchange of all prisoners of war.
• Russia’s acceptance of Ukraine’s potential membership in the European Union.

This latest proposal is reportedly the ninth draft of its kind, and its adoption remains uncertain.

It is noted that the Ukrainian peace plan from 2022, which consisted of 10 points, differs significantly from the Turkish proposal.

The Ukrainian plan included requirements for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and steps to formalize the conclusion of the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined two main conditions for peace in 2023: the return of Ukraine’s territory to its 1991 borders and the withdrawal of Russian troops, including the Black Sea Fleet, from Ukrainian territory.

Source: Newsroom