Peacemaking In Ukraine—the Five Key Issues On The Table, Explained

Whiplash diplomacy has engulfed the Ukraine peace process. Following backchannel consultations led by US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russia sovereign wealth fund manager Kirill Dmitriev, transatlantic allies frantically proposed their own plan (of which there are several versions), and the US and Ukraine hashed out a revision in Geneva. To cut through the noise, observers should understand the five core contentious issues that will make or break a Ukrainian peace: the status of Russian-occupied territory, a Ukraine security arrangement, Russia's immobilized sovereign assets, Russia sanctions, and Ukraine's reconstruction. Areas of alignment on the five issues are thin and have hardly moved since US-led mediation began in February, but not all necessarily need to be bridged for a final deal. In the short term, there are downside risks of transatlantic division, which could embolden Russia and undermine a sustainable peace agreement.