US Proposes Ukraine Peace Plan; Zelensky to Engage Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to engage with Donald Trump after the United States presented a draft peace plan to Ukraine, aimed at ending the conflict with Russia. Zelensky's office stated that the US believes the proposal could "help reinvigorate diplomacy," and Ukraine has agreed to "work on the plan's provisions in a way that would bring about a just end to the war."
The plan was reportedly drafted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev, without Ukraine's direct involvement in its initial formulation. According to sources cited by Axios, the Financial Times, and Reuters, the proposal suggests Kyiv might relinquish control of certain areas in the Donbas region, significantly reduce the size of its military, and limit its armaments.
The White House reported that Mr. Trump has expressed frustration with both Russia and Ukraine for their "refusal to commit to a peace agreement," and that his team has been developing a "detailed and acceptable" peace plan. Conversely, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged "contacts" with the US but stated there was "no process that could be called 'consultations'" regarding the rumored 28-point plan. Peskov also indicated that any peace agreement would need to address the "root causes of the conflict," a phrase Moscow uses to refer to its security demands.
European foreign ministers have issued warnings against formulating proposals without consulting Kyiv or Brussels. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that for any plan to be effective, it requires the involvement of Ukrainians and Europeans. A senior US official conveyed that Special Envoy Witkoff had received input from both Ukrainian and Russian sides concerning acceptable terms for ending the war, asserting that concessions would be necessary from both parties. Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko reported that Ukraine had "not been consulted" on the plan.
This diplomatic development occurs as Mr. Trump, since starting his second term, has engaged in various initiatives to resolve the war in Ukraine. These include a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, multiple visits by envoy Witkoff to Moscow, and discussions with President Zelensky and other Western leaders. The conflict continues, with the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaching. Ukraine has targeted Russian military infrastructure and energy facilities with long-range drones, while Russia has continued attacks on Ukrainian targets, including a recent missile and drone strike on residential buildings in Ternopil.