The cast-iron security guarantees Zelenskyy is demanding aren’t only important to deter a repeat Russian invasion but also to help market a deal to skeptical Ukrainians.Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images

Zelenskyy’s daunting task: Selling territorial concessions – POLITICO

by · POLITICO

Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor and a foreign affairs columnist at POLITICO Europe.

Leaders from Ukraine, Europe and the U.S. have all hailed what they see as significant progress during this week’s peace talks to end Russia’s nearly four year-long war on Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been talking up the prospect of striking a peace deal, saying Russia and Ukraine are closer to an agreement than they’ve ever been. Russian officials have also mentioned being on “the verge of a deal,” despite flatly dismissing some of what’s been tentatively agreed on by Ukraine and its Western allies.