The Ukrainian delegation at talks with Russia has laid out a possible framework for a future peace deal based on legally binding security guarantees that would provide for other countries to intervene if it is attacked.

Delegate Oleksandr Chaly said Tuesday that the guarantees should be similar in character to NATO's Article 5, which pledges members of the alliance to defend each other in case one is attacked.

The delegation said Ukraine is prepared to pledge to be neutral, not to host foreign military forces and to hold talks over the next 15 years on the future of the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.

Another delegate, David Arakhamia, said such a deal would need to be secured by a referendum in Ukraine. That could take place only after all foreign troops have left.

Russia announced Tuesday it will “fundamentally" scale back military operations near Ukraine’s capital and a northern city.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the change on the battlefield was meant to increase trust at the talks after several rounds of negotiations failed to halt what has devolved into a bloody campaign of attrition.

The delegations are scheduled to hold two days of talks.