Ukraine makes new proposals to US to end war with Russia

Ukraine has made new proposals to the US to end its four-and-a-half-year war with Russia. The country's President Vladimir Zelensky announced this in a video address on Tuesday (August 11) night.

Zelensky said, "We have conveyed our proposals to the US side." However, he did not provide any details of the proposals.

The Ukrainian president said that in addition to increasing pressure on Russia, the US could help strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, especially air defense systems. Through this, it would be possible to force Moscow to prepare for an end to the war instead of prolonging it, he added.

Meanwhile, there have been indications from both Ukraine and Russia that US negotiators may visit the two countries soon. However, ongoing talks to stop Russia's aggression in Ukraine have been virtually stalled for some time.

Although there have been several rounds of talks to end the war since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the process has stalled further since the US and Israel launched a war in Iran. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner last visited Moscow in January. They have not yet visited Kiev.

Ukraine has repeatedly called for a ceasefire after a long war. Russia, on the other hand, has also been talking about compromise. However, Moscow insists that any solution must require Ukraine to fully cede four territories claimed by Russia and address the “root causes” of the conflict.

Meanwhile, Zelensky alleged in his speech that Moscow was preparing a new large-scale military recruitment drive ahead of next month’s Russian parliamentary elections.

He said that “after this farce in the name of elections,” Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning to quickly recruit hundreds of thousands more Russian citizens into the army by the end of the year. He claimed that the same number could be recruited next year.

Zelensky alleged that this would create the impression that there is public support for the war in Russia. However, Moscow officials have previously denied the need for a new military buildup.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Moscow had released former US Marine Robert Gilman after nearly four years in Russian custody.

Trump said Russian President Putin had agreed to release Gilman, 32, on humanitarian grounds. He added that the US had not released any prisoners in exchange.

Gilman was due to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Tuesday night. The US has long been pressuring Moscow to provide him with medical treatment.

US officials said that doctors would check Gilman's physical condition on the plane back to the United States. He would then be taken to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas.

Gilman was detained in Russia in January 2022 after an alleged confrontation with a police officer. The United States later identified him as an "unjustly detained" person.

Al Jazeera reports.