FLASH
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Frontline soldiers in Ukraine are reacting to the US peace proposals with a mix of defiance, anger and resignation. The BBC spoke to six members of the Ukrainian forces who have sent their views via social media and email on the original US plan published last week. Since then, US and Ukrainian negotiators have been working on changes to the proposals and continue talks on the “peace framework”.
The original plan proposes that Ukraine give up the entire Donbas region, including parts it has defended for nearly four years. This comes at a time when Russia has made major advances on the front, taking 450 square kilometers in the last month alone. Reactions from soldiers are divided: Yaroslav from eastern Ukraine considers the plan bad and unsupported, while a military doctor with the sign Shtutser calls the draft “absolutely shameful.” Another soldier with the sign Snake says it’s time to agree on at least something, adding that many areas of Donbas are already empty and the human losses are becoming meaningless. Officer Andrii admits that the proposal is painful, but warns that Ukraine may not be able to hold the territory by force, while Matros, a front-line veteran, says that surrendering Donbas would nullify all the efforts of the armed forces and disregard the lives of fallen soldiers.
The US plan also envisages limiting the size of the Ukrainian armed forces to 600,000 troops, down from more than 800,000 currently. Snake argues that many soldiers will be needed to rebuild the country after the war, while Andrii points out that if there are security guarantees, there is no point in maintaining such large forces and the economy would not be able to support such an army. Shtutser disagrees and calls the army the last line of defense against defeat, while Matros calls the proposal absurd and manipulative.
The US draft rules out Ukraine's membership in NATO, but not the European Union, and includes a promise of US security guarantees in the event of a new Russian attack, without clear details. Yevhen, a drone operator in eastern Ukraine, supports sending foreign troops as part of a "Coalition of the Willing," while Andrii is less confident in European support and Shtutser is skeptical of US guarantees.
The draft also stipulates new elections within 100 days of the end of the war, a point that finds wider support on the front. Snake sees this as necessary to restore trust in the government, Marin says it must be cleansed of corruption, while Andrii agrees that a full government overhaul is necessary. Corruption investigations totaling $100 million have caused political tensions and a lack of trust even within the military.
The common message from the soldiers is fatigue from fighting and a desire for peace. Andrii concludes by saying that for him, everything works if the fighting stops.
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