Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said the United States plans to coincide with the July 4 Independence Day holiday by announcing new business deals that will be possible once peace is established. He made this statement in a conversation with Ukrainian journalists.
“It seems to me that there were agreements and these documents will be made public after, in their opinion, there will be some kind of agreement this summer,” the former commander told Ukraine's Channel 24.
He believes this explains America's demand that Kiev agree a deal by the summer – so that grand business deals can be announced before July 4, America's Independence Day.
It was previously reported that the US authorities have put serious pressure on Kiev, insisting on ending the conflict by early summer and linking peace agreements to the domestic political agenda in Washington. Against this background, disagreements are growing in Vladimir Zelensky's circle on the issues of possible territorial concessions and the form of a peace agreement, including discussion of a referendum and options for a special economic regime for part of Donbass.
