In a surprising development, Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to share the sovereignty of Crimea with Ukraine as part of a proposed peace plan. This proposal was reportedly delivered by Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev during his recent visit to the United States, according to sources in Moscow and Kyiv.
Interestingly, Kolokoltsev's plane was spotted alongside President Trump's aircraft upon its arrival in Washington. Trump has previously stated that he could quickly end the war if re-elected, suggesting that this might involve Ukraine ceding territory for security assurances short of NATO membership.
Kolokoltsev, despite being under sanctions, entered the US under the pretext of attending a UN meeting of police chiefs. However, it is claimed that his real mission was to present Putin's peace plan to the US government. Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon and the Russian Telegram channel Gosdumskaya, both citing insider sources, have shared details of this plan.
The proposed plan would require Ukraine to make significant concessions, including withdrawing from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which are partially controlled by Russia. In return, Russia would hand over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station and the town of Enerhodar to Ukraine, and discussions would take place regarding the possible transfer of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions back to Ukrainian control.
A key element of the plan involves transforming Crimea into a demilitarized administrative territory jointly governed by Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine would also need to provide international guarantees to maintain water supplies to Crimea. Additionally, Ukraine would control a 62-mile demilitarized zone along the Dnipro River, and its army size would be capped by international agreements. Crucially, Ukraine would be barred from joining NATO, though Putin would not oppose its EU membership. The West would be expected to lift sanctions on Russian oil, gas, and banking.
While Gordon reported that the Ukrainian army size would be limited to 350,000, Gosdumskaya mentioned a figure of 150,000. Gordon also highlighted that the UN meeting Kolokoltsev attended was a diversion, with his main goal being the delivery of Russia's peace plan.
There has been no official response from the US, Russia, or Ukraine regarding these back-channel discussions.
Kolokoltsev, who has been Putin's Interior Minister for 12 years, continues to play a significant role in Russia's political and security apparatus.
