Reporter's Notebook : A 'letter' to Zelenskyy about the peace plan

Having covered Ukraine and Russia for over three decades, especially the war between the two countries for the last several years, I've naturally been fascinated by the latest Trump administration effort to broker peace.

The reaction I've been getting from contacts in Ukraine to the 28-point plan to end the war is not all that positive.  

"It's not worth the paper it's written on," said one observer.

"Any deal would have to include Ukraine … and Europe," noted another. 

Dear Volodymyr, 

So far so good. You haven't freaked out, and you're promising to engage. Rejection of this plan out of hand would have been a non-starter.

You're staying cool (though a bit grim and determined), and you're talking to people. 

I know what your country is going through. Every time I'm in Kyiv, I go to the same military cemetery outside the city, and it keeps getting bigger and bigger and sadder.

I mentioned that you shouldn't "sweat the small stuff." Some of the points might sound like a big deal. Like prohibiting "Nazi ideology" in Ukraine. And adopting "EU rules on religious tolerance and linguistic minorities." That's pretty much window dressing for Moscow. Having the Russian language and Russian church regain official status is not horrendous. 

In fact, the plan's glass is at least one-third full for you guys. Confirming your sovereignty. Russia expected not to invade you again. You will receive reliable security guarantees. Rebuilding pledges and humanitarian promises. They are all good. Just nail down the specifics. Get all sides to commit for sure.

Now to three of the points which cross your red line, according to analysts.

Like handing over the rest of the eastern Donetsk region to Russia even though Moscow's troops haven't even taken it. The region is referred to as a demilitarized zone in the plan. A "DMZ" a la the divider between North and South Korea. Well, hold them to that. No troops from either side. Tough security on both sides. A neutral body running things. And see if you can get them to not call it Russian!

Then there's the reduction by a third of your military. Troop strength limited to 600,000. That's a huge cut, but it's still not a bad-sized force. That is if … it was properly trained, well-armed and finely-positioned.  Guarantees are needed for all of this to happen.

There are also a few "gimmes" for the U.S. in all this, like sharing in the profits of reconstruction. But that's the price of doing business with President Trump. 

As for that Thanksgiving deadline to sign the deal? The president has already signaled he's willing to let that slide if there's talking. 

Anyway, for what it's worth, that's my take. 

Negotiations will probably sink on any hard discussion of any of these main points. But you know what the old adage is: "Jaw-jaw" is better than "war-war." 

For the proud people of Ukraine who have suffered so much during this time, it's worth your best shot.

Sincerely,

Greg