Ukraine and Russia are jointly developing a tentative 15-point peace plan that includes a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Moscow, on the condition that Kiev declares itself neutral and accepts certain limits on its armed forces, according to three people. involved in the talks to the British newspaper The Financial Times .

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assured that “he is close” to reaching an agreement with Ukraine on security guarantees, Russian agencies reported.

“There are a number of formulations of the agreements with Ukraine on the status of neutrality and security guarantees that are about to be achieved,” Lavrov stated, the Russian Interfax agency reported.

The proposed deal – which Ukrainian and Russian negotiators discussed in full for the first time on Monday – involves kyiv giving up its ambitions to join NATO and promising not to host foreign military bases or weapons, in exchange for the protection of allies such as United States, Great Britain and Turkey.

Although Moscow and Kiev said they had made progress on the terms of the deal, Ukrainian officials remain skeptical that Russian President Vladimir Putin is fully committed to peace .