According to a report by the Financial Times, two private American citizens, Richard Conn and Bob Foresman, established a back channel with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine in 2022, which nearly led to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The team, code-named "the Platform," included a former East German spy and a Ukrainian filmmaker, and was able to convey a message from the Biden administration to Russian President Vladimir Putin, assuring him that the US was not seeking regime change or destruction of Russia.
Putin responded that he was open to negotiations, but wanted them to be held at a higher level. The draft proposal, as reported by the Financial Times, included several key points, including Russia pulling back to its pre-war position, Ukraine recognizing Russian control over Crimea, and a ceasefire ensured by NATO states.
Ukrainian opposition MP Oleksiy Goncharenko confirmed the story and provided additional details about the proposal. The reactions from Moscow and Kiev to the proposal were different, with Putin willing to discuss the suggested border and security arrangement, but insisting that Ukraine could not join NATO.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was less receptive to the proposal, and the effort ultimately did not lead to a peaceful resolution. The story highlights a missed opportunity for peace in Ukraine, and its significance will be determined by history.