On October 24, 2026, it became known that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected a peace plan that involved recognizing Russian control over Crimea and creating a land corridor to the peninsula. This plan was developed in 2023 by a group of intermediaries, including Ukrainian producer Alexander Rodnyansky and a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Matthias Warnig.
Conditions of the Peace Plan
According to information published by Financial Times, the plan included the following key conditions:
- Withdrawal of Russian troops from most occupied territories.
- Retention of Russian control over Crimea and part of Donbas.
- Recognition by Ukraine of Russian control over Crimea and provision of a land corridor to the peninsula in exchange for security guarantees from NATO countries.
Response of the Ukrainian Leadership
The intermediaries presented this plan to the Ukrainian leadership, but Zelensky and then-head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak rejected it, hoping for more favorable conditions due to successes on the battlefield. According to Warnig, Putin personally reviewed the document, made notes on it, and allegedly agreed with the proposed demarcation line. However, he opposed Ukraine's NATO membership, allowing only the possibility of joining the European Union.
Negotiation Prospects
Despite the intermediaries' attempts to reach an agreement by February 24, 2023, the negotiation channel ultimately ceased operations. Many former American officials interviewed by Financial Times expressed doubts about whether Putin was genuinely inclined toward a serious compromise in these negotiations.