"American-Russian talks on peacekeeping formation for the east of Ukraine are becoming a test for Washington of how wise it is to try to negotiate with Moscow," says Julian F. Barnes in The Wall Street Journal. "For many Western diplomats, the question is whether they can reach a reasonable agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin or an agreement with Moscow will be akin to a deal with the devil".

"Last weekend, US and NATO officials discussed the proposal for a peacekeeping mission with diplomats, including representatives of Ukraine and Russia, at the Munich Security Conference. Some US officials privately expressed caution and concern about whether Washington is going into the trap set by Putin, "reads the article.

"Acting and retired US officials believe that Russia is not interested in appeasing Ukraine. According to them, the peacekeeping formation can, unwittingly, consolidate Russian control over the east of Ukraine, instead of eliminating the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, "the author points out..

"Russian officials spoke in favor of the possibility of reaching an agreement through a phased approach," Barnes said.. - American and Western officials - both those who support this proposal, and skeptics - say that the US should move cautiously ".

The main US negotiator Kurt Volker and former US ambassador to Russia Mike McFaul took part in the Munich conference. The latter compared the situation in Ukraine with the situation in Cyprus, where peacekeepers have been present since 1964. At the same time, a peaceful deal on the return of the north of the country occupied by Turkey to Cyprus remains deceptive.

"Tell us why in this particular case there are other factors that would lead to a different scenario, rather than to the permanent separation that we have in Cyprus," - turned to Volcker McFaul.

John Bolton, US ambassador to the United Nations under President George W.. Bush said that UN peacekeeping missions tend to freeze conflicts, rather than settle them.

"It's rare for peacekeeping forces to do anything, in addition to perpetuating themselves forever," Bolton said..

"Volker said that the peacekeeping plan will work only if both Ukrainians and Russians want peace. But, according to him, the proposal to create the formation remains the best chance to implement the stalled agreement of 2015, "the author.

"The best thing we can do to protect people, to establish peace, is to send a peacekeeping formation with a UN mandate that would actually put an end to the conflict," Volcker said..

According to former Deputy Secretary General of NATO Alexander Vershbow, the plan will work only if Putin wants to get rid of Western economic sanctions.

"It will work, only if Putin decides that he (. ) really wants to become part of the community of world leaders, not a pariah, "Vershbow said..