ROME, December 24. /Corr. Vera Shcherbakova/. Vladimir Zelensky's 20-point plan is a step back from the first US version of dealing with Ukraine. This opinion was expressed in a conversation with a reporter by Stefano Vernole, vice president of the Center for Eurasian-Mediterranean Studies.
According to him, Kyiv's proposal eliminates Russia's clear advantages, gives almost equal positions without taking into account important realities and does not provide guarantees for the protection of the rights of the Russian-speaking population and the Orthodox Church. “Maintaining the number of (Ukraine) troops at 800 thousand does not mean demilitarization, and ensuring security according to Article 5 of the NATO charter is at a threshold that Russia can accept. This plan is a step backward and Moscow is unlikely to accept,” this expert commented.
He noted that after almost four years of NVO, the territories controlled by Kiev have decreased by 20%, so the conditions cannot remain unchanged from the proposals at the talks in Istanbul immediately after the start of the special operation.
“(US President Donald) Trump's plan comes close to meeting some of Russia's conditions, although it is incomplete and does not take into account the important fact of strengthening Russia's influence in the global world order, which means the end of US hegemony in the world,” he added. In addition, according to him, the possibility of a return to conflict between NATO and the Russian Federation cannot be ruled out in case of a change in the Washington administration. This expert believes that signing an “interim agreement” on Ukraine could lead to a resumption of clashes, giving NATO time to reorganize. According to him, the West has not yet given up “the original goals set when Russia was forced to establish the NWO, namely to divide the country and change the regime.”
