Biden Proposed Transferring About 20% of Ukrainian Territory to Russia: Neue Zürcher Zeitung

The head of the CIA, William Burns, proposed a peace plan to Kyiv and Moscow in mid-January. According to Kommersant.ru, this was reported by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ).

As per the publication, U.S. President Joe Biden sent Burns to Kyiv and Moscow with an offer to transfer about 20% of Ukrainian territory to the Russian side in exchange for peace. According to the publication, both sides rejected such a proposal.

It was reported that Biden aimed to avoid a prolonged war in Ukraine through this proposal. NZZ also noted that only after Burns failed this plan did the American leader decide to supply Abrams tanks to Kyiv.

Earlier, it was reported that Burns allegedly made a secret visit to Moscow in January. The Washington Post previously wrote that the CIA chief also held a secret meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv around the same time.

According to NZZ, the Ukrainian authorities are unwilling to cede any of their territory, while Russian officials are confident that “one way or another, they will win the war in the long run.”

However, a CIA official, speaking anonymously, told Newsweek that NZZ's claims are “completely false.” U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that the publication's information is “not accurate.”

As of now, officials from Russia and Ukraine have not commented on this information.

Officially, peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were suspended in May 2022 at Kyiv's initiative. On October 4, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree ruling out the possibility of further negotiations with the Russian president as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power. In January, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that there are no preconditions for negotiations with Ukraine.