The world is witnessing a surge in shuttle diplomacy as President Trump tries to deliver on his promise of ending the Ukraine war. Earlier this week, US envoy to Russia Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for four hours in St Petersburg. Though there is no official word yet about the outcome of the meeting, it is being said that the Russian president agreed not just to a ceasefire but to permanent peace also.

Meanwhile, American envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg, in an interview, spoke about a 'reassurance force' comprising British and French troops that could establish a zone of control in the western part of Ukraine. He also suggested that the Russian army could remain in the occupied East Ukraine under this arrangement.

However, the envoy was quick to refute the content of the interview and said he was misquoted. He clarified that he was only suggesting a 'post-ceasefire resilience force' and was in no way referring to the partition of Ukraine.

To an independent analyst and a follower of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the American envoy's statements reflect: one, like in any ceasefire arrangement that is agreed, there is a likelihood of deployment of troops from European countries on Ukrainian soil; two, Russian occupation of Eastern Ukraine would most likely remain as it is during the period of any ceasefire.

Considering that the Russian president has already demanded that the UN take over Ukraine to organise democratic elections there, one can safely assume that if any ceasefire does materialise, it will hinge on the presence of either the UN or European troops........

© The Express Tribune