Media named five key obstacles for peace between Russia and Ukraine

Issues of territories, Ukraine's accession to NATO, the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the status of the Russian language in Ukraine, as well as control over the ZNPP are the main points of disagreement between the parties in the Ukrainian settlement, one or more of which may become obstacles to concluding a peace agreement.

As reported by BAKU.WS, this was written by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

On the issue of territories, Russia advocates for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas, which is also expected from Kyiv by the US, however, at the moment the Kyiv regime refuses any concessions, the publication reminded. Ukraine also does not want to abandon its course toward NATO membership, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recognition of the fact that Washington does not want to allow the country's membership in the alliance and prevents it.

There is also no certainty on the issue of the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in peacetime. The initial version of the US-proposed peace plan suggested a level of 600,000 military personnel, but Kyiv and European leaders insist on a number of 800,000. Neither the American nor the Russian side has yet commented on this Ukrainian demand, the WSJ notes.

Another point of contention remains the status of the Russian language in Ukraine. Russia believes that the Kyiv authorities should grant it state status, and this item was also contained in the original version of the American peace plan. In turn, the Ukrainian leadership has not confirmed its readiness to end discriminatory policies against the Russian language, Russian-language media, and Russian cultural heritage in the country.

The last stumbling block in the Ukrainian settlement is the issue of control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as, from Kyiv's point of view, the US proposal to divide control over the station between Moscow and Kyiv is "unfair." Zelensky has stated that the mechanisms for demilitarizing the ZNPP and financing its repair are not well-developed, the newspaper reminded.

On the current state of the settlement

Earlier, Axios portal, citing a source in the American administration, reported that a new round of negotiations between the US and Ukraine could take place this coming weekend at the level of military and working group representatives. As reported by the portal's correspondent Barak Ravid, national security advisers from the UK, Germany, and France ("Euro trio") will participate in talks on the Ukrainian issue in Miami on December 20 and will meet with US President's special envoy Steven Witkoff and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov. They will be joined by the Foreign Minister of Turkey and the Prime Minister of Qatar.

In addition, Axios reported that contacts in Miami are planned not only between the US and the Ukrainian delegation but also with representatives of Russia. According to their information, Witkoff and the American leader's son-in-law Jared Kushner plan to meet with the special representative of the Russian President for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, Kirill Dmitriev. On December 18, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin expects information from the American side about the results of work with Europeans and Ukrainians on conflict resolution when they are ready. Later, US President Donald Trump announced his trip to Florida, and on the morning of December 20, Dmitriev confirmed that he was on his way to Miami.