Ukrainian Military Personnel Discuss US Draft Peace Plan Elements
Ukrainian military personnel have offered diverse perspectives on the draft US peace proposals, details of which were reported last week. American and Ukrainian negotiators are currently engaged in discussions regarding potential revisions to these proposals, continuing talks on the 'peace framework.' The BBC gathered views from several soldiers via social media and email.
One soldier, identified as Yaroslav, described the original US plan as unacceptable, stating, "no one will support it." Similarly, an army medic using the call sign Shtutser characterized the draft as "absolutely disgraceful" and "unworthy of our attention." Conversely, a soldier identified as Snake stated, "it's time to agree at least on something."
Territorial Considerations
The US draft peace proposal was introduced amidst Russian military advances, which have resulted in Ukraine losing an additional 450 square kilometers of territory over the past month. Ukraine currently retains control of approximately 15% of the Donbas region, an area encompassing the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts that constitutes a key Russian war objective. The original US plan suggests Ukraine cede control of the entire Donbas region.
Regarding this proposal, Snake commented, "Let them take it. There's practically no one left in the cities and villages… We're not fighting for the people but for the land, while losing more people." Andrii, an officer in Ukraine's general staff, described the proposal for Luhansk and Donetsk as "painful and difficult" but indicated that the country might not have alternatives. Andrii elaborated, "We may not want to give it up, but we won't be able to hold it by military force and resources." Ukraine has been defending this region since 2014.
In contrast, Matros, a soldier active since 2018, stated that relinquishing the Donbas would "nullify everything - all the efforts of the armed forces," adding, "It will disregard the lives of fallen soldiers and civilians."
Size of Ukraine's Armed Forces
The US draft peace plan includes a provision to limit the size of Ukraine's armed forces to 600,000 personnel. This figure is higher than the approximately 250,000 full-time personnel Ukraine had before the full-scale invasion but lower than current estimates, which place Ukraine's military strength at over 800,000.
Snake suggested that many current service members would be needed for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. He queried, "What's the point of having so many people in the army if there will be security guarantees?" Andrii concurred, noting, "If there are security guarantees, then of course there's no point in keeping such a large army. People are tired and want to return to their families. There's no reason to keep them in a peacetime army after the war." He also expressed concerns about Ukraine's economic capacity to sustain a large military during peacetime.
Conversely, Shtutser stated that Ukraine's army "is the only thing separating us from defeat and enslavement." Matros referred to the proposal to reduce military size as "absurd and manipulative."
Security Guarantees
The feasibility of Ukraine's acceptance of the proposals is contingent on future security assurances. The US draft plan excludes Ukraine's membership in NATO but does not preclude its entry into the European Union. The plan includes a commitment for US security guarantees in the event of a future Russian attack, though specific details of this support are not elaborated. It also prohibits the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine if a deal is reached.
Yevhen, a drone operator in eastern Ukraine, views the presence of foreign troops as a critical security measure. He expressed approval for the UK's proposal to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a "reassurance force" through a "Coalition of the Willing," stating, "This is the only plan that will help us win, to introduce allied troops."
However, Andrii expressed skepticism regarding European security guarantees, describing Europe as "completely spineless and divided" and suggesting that "all hope rests only on the United States." Schtutser, another soldier, conveyed a lack of confidence in US security guarantees, stating that "US security guarantees under its current government are not guarantees at all."