Three-stage peace plan for Ukraine: experts point out the pitfalls of the announced conditions
18 February 17:34
OPINION
on February 18, 2025, negotiations between the delegations of Russia and the United States took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aimed at resolving the hostilities in Ukraine. According to information published by Fox News journalist Jackie Heinrich on social network X, the parties proposed a three-stage peace plan.
What is the three-stage peace plan from the United States and Russia (Fox News version)
The first stage. Immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties to the conflict.
The second stage. Organization and holding of new presidential elections on the territory of Ukraine.
The third stage. Conclusion of a treaty that consolidates the agreements reached and establishes long-term peace.
Source
The expert emphasized that Ukraine is unlikely to accept this, because it is actually a freeze on the conflict, not a peace plan as such.
“Unfortunately, the word “just” peace is increasingly disappearing from the airwaves, but everyone wants long-term peace. And it remains in the information space,” Zhdanov noted.
He also emphasized that it is not yet known who exactly proposed the 3-stage “peace plan” that Russia and the United States discussed in Saudi Arabia on February 18.
“It is a fact that Russia needs an operational pause. Their army is being “folded” today. And if they don’t stop by May, the frontline may simply crumble. The summer campaign could be a complete failure on the part of the Russian Federation. That’s why these narratives are saying, let’s cease fire, hold elections, and then sign the final agreement. Where is the just peace in that? Where is the solution to the issues of territorial integrity, sovereignty and other security issues? They are simply not there,” Zhdanov emphasized.
The expert believes that the three-stage peace plan may simply be a “throw-in” by the Russian side. And this is indirectly indicated by the fact that the United States at the level of political representatives has not yet provided any information about it, including comments.
“The whole world is “chasing” the theses that were voiced through a reputable Russian agency and were expressed by the Russian delegation,” Zhdanov summarized.
Political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko is also convinced that the United States did not announce the “peace plan” at the meeting in Riyadh, which was reported by a number of world and Ukrainian media on February 18.
“These are thoughts that are being voiced and discussed, but this is not an official American plan. In any case, no US official has stated this directly, at an official briefing,” he said.
In turn, political analyst Taras Zavgorodnyi, who
“Are we interested in such a scheme? No, we are not interested. We are interested in reaching the 1991 borders. This is possible by striking at the territory of the Russian Federation, so that their oil refining industry is destroyed to the point where they cannot fight anymore. This is our task that we must set for ourselves. What they say there is their business. Zelensky said that all conversations without us are not conversations,” Zavhorodniy emphasized.
