Ukraine Peace Deal Elusive: US Envoy Reveals Last-Mile Hurdles

US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg has expressed optimism that a deal to end the Ukraine war is within reach, but warned that resolving two outstanding issues - the fate of the Donbas region and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - is the key to success. The Ukraine conflict, which has claimed over 2 million casualties since its inception in 2022, has become the deadliest European conflict since World War II. The war has also triggered a significant confrontation between Russia and the West, reminiscent of the Cold War era. Kellogg, who is set to step down in January, believes that efforts to resolve the conflict are at a critical stage, with the two main issues holding up a potential peace deal. "If we can settle these two issues, I think the rest of the things will work out fairly well," he said. The Donbas region, comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, has been a focal point of the conflict, with Russia-backed separatists clashing with Ukrainian troops. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, has also been under Russian control, sparking concerns about its safety and potential for nuclear disaster. A leaked set of US draft peace proposals has raised eyebrows in Ukraine and Europe, with officials expressing concerns that it may compromise on key issues, including NATO's role and Ukraine's territorial integrity. The proposals, which have been split into four components, have been met with skepticism, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy calling for caution. As the international community continues to grapple with the complexities of the Ukraine conflict, Kellogg's comments offer a glimmer of hope for a potential resolution. However, the path forward remains uncertain, with many outstanding issues yet to be addressed.