A draft peace proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, developed by the US administration of President Donald Trump in coordination with Moscow, calls for significant concessions from Kyiv and European leaders, according to a draft obtained on Thursday.
The proposal, which would resolve a conflict that began nearly four years ago, was discussed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a US representative on Thursday.
Major Concessions for Ukraine
The framework includes several provisions that align closely with long-standing demands from Russian President Vladimir Putin, including:
- Territorial Cession: Under the draft, Russia would gain control of the entire eastern Donbas region, which comprises the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. This would grant Moscow territory it has been unable to fully secure on the battlefield, as approximately 14% of the region still remains in Ukrainian hands.
- NATO Expansion Freeze: The proposal would not only explicitly bar Ukraine from joining NATO but would also prevent the alliance’s future expansion, a step considered a major strategic victory for Moscow.
- Military Reduction: Ukraine would be required to limit the size of its military, which currently stands at roughly 880,000 troops, reducing it to a maximum of 600,000. It may also have to forgo certain advanced weapons systems provided by Western partners.
Incentives for Russia and Ukraine
The plan also includes mechanisms to reintegrate Russia into the global community while offering aid for Ukraine:
- Sanctions and G8: There would be a path for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia and the country’s potential return to what was formerly known as the Group of 8 (G8).
- Reconstruction Funds: $100 billion in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine.
- Commitment to Peace: Russia would commit to making no future attacks, which the White House considers a concession from Moscow.
The Drafting Team and Internal Resistance
The peace plan has been quietly developed over the last month by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who reportedly received input from both Ukrainian and Russian representatives. Key to drafting the proposal were Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Putin. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the plan’s development, stating it aims to “stop the killing and create a durable, lasting peace.”
However, the proposal faces immense opposition in Kyiv:
- Unacceptable and Illegal: Handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine and illegal under Ukraine’s constitution. President Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out such a possibility.
- International Skepticism: The proposal has reportedly caught European diplomats by surprise, with some calling the terms “unacceptable” for Ukraine and likening the concessions to the 1938 Munich Agreement with Nazi Germany.
Latest Battlefield Update
In separate developments, the conflict remains heated on the ground. Russia’s chief military officer, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, announced that Moscow’s forces had taken full control of Kupiansk in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. However, the general staff for Ukraine’s armed forces denied Gerasimov’s claims, asserting that Kyiv’s forces remain in control of the city.