LONDON, February 10. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump’s administration paused drafting a Ukraine settlement plan to seek views from the European allies, the Daily Telegraph reported, citing sources.
According to the report, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, recently told European diplomats that he would listen to views on the shape of any peace deal and what other governments could contribute to the peace process.
"He promised to hold those negotiations with ‘prime ministers and presidents’ from the NATO alliance, in a move that will reassure those who fear being frozen out of the talks by Washington," the newspaper said.
Kellogg said he would unveil elements of the peace plan at the Munich Security Conference in Germany this weekend, according to the newspaper.
"The Telegraph understands that this will be an offer of continued military support for Kiev in exchange for access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources," the report said. "Europeans who held talks with General Kellogg were reassured that Washington wants to strengthen Ukraine’s hand in any future negotiations with Russia."
Trump earlier expressed hope that a deal to resolve the conflict in Ukraine will be reached shortly. Western news media are suggesting ever more often that a settlement in Ukraine will be discussed between the leaders of Russia and the US, with Europe moved to the sidelines and Kiev’s involvement just a formality.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 7 that there had been no substantive proposals on the matter of Ukraine from the US, but only various statements that were later refuted.