Russia and the United States have discussed a model similar to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank to end the war with Ukraine.
According to the British newspaper The Times, under this model, the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia would remain under the Russian government’s military and economic control.
To end the war, Russia has been demanding recognition of Crimea, the Donbas region, and other Ukrainian territories it controls as Russian land.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that he will not cede any territory to Russia, saying that the constitution also prohibits such action.
Since Ukraine will not officially relinquish its land and Russia will also not give up the Ukrainian territories it currently controls, it is believed that Russia and the United States have discussed the West Bank model.
The Times reported that a few weeks ago, Donald Trump’s peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, held talks on this matter with his Russian counterpart.
Trump appointed Witkoff as a peace envoy to help end the Israel–Hamas war as well, so he is familiar with the model.
In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel seized the West Bank from Jordan. Although the West Bank, home to a Palestinian population, does not appear on Israel’s official map as Israeli territory, it remains under Israel’s military and economic control.
Under this model, the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia would remain on Ukraine’s official map, but the Russian government would maintain military and economic control over them.
Since this arrangement would not require Ukraine to formally relinquish its territory, there is a possibility that Ukraine might agree to it.
To stop the Russia–Ukraine war, Donald Trump is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska, USA.
Ahead of the much-anticipated meeting, Trump held a virtual conference with European leaders on Thursday to develop a strategy for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
During that meeting, he assured that there would be no agreement with Putin regarding any part of Ukrainian territory.
Various media outlets have reported that Trump also stated that negotiations over Ukrainian territory do not fall under his jurisdiction.
This has given European leaders hope that Trump will not accept any Russian proposal to gain control over Ukrainian territory in exchange for a ceasefire.
Previously, Trump had said that a ceasefire might involve a land swap between Russia and Ukraine. Russia has long insisted that any ceasefire should be based on the current lines of control.
Trump had said that in a land swap, both countries would gain something and lose something.
However, in Wednesday’s discussions with European leaders, Trump reportedly said that the decision on Ukrainian territory should be made by Ukraine itself, according to French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview with CNN.
“President Trump made it extremely clear that no one except the Ukrainian president can negotiate on territorial matters,” Macron told reporters.
According to Macron, Trump had two key messages:
First, to make the Alaska talks a success in achieving a ceasefire; and second, on territorial matters. Macron said Trump was clear on both points.
Trump said that if the ceasefire talks with Putin succeed, he would quickly initiate a second round of talks that would include Zelensky.
He stated that any agreements on territory and other issues would be made in the presence and with the consent of Zelensky.
CNN reported that during the virtual meeting, Trump also expressed support for a security guarantee for Ukraine that would include a role for the United States.
European diplomats have regarded this as a positive development.
Trump also warned that if the meeting failed, Russia would face serious consequences.
Similarly, he said that if the talks failed, additional sanctions would be imposed on countries that purchase oil from Russia.
