A draft plan aiming to conclude the conflict in Ukraine was discussed in Kyiv during a visit by a US Pentagon delegation, which met with President Zelensky. Concurrently, President Putin met with his military command, reaffirming Russia's objective to achieve the aims of its 'special military operation'. The Russian newspaper Izvestia interpreted President Putin's command post visit as a signal to the United States regarding Russia's readiness for negotiations on its own terms.
The Kremlin has stated it has not received any official communication from Washington concerning a peace plan. However, a 28-point proposal has been widely reported. This reported plan emerged following a visit to the United States by Kirill Dmitriev, President Putin's envoy, who engaged in discussions with Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy, in Miami.
Drafts of the reported peace proposal suggest that Ukraine would cede specific parts of the Donbas region currently under its control, reduce its armed forces, and commit to not joining NATO. While the Kremlin has not confirmed the specific contents of this plan, President Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, advised Kyiv to agree to the proposed terms. Peskov stated, "The Russian military's effective work should convince Zelensky and his regime that it's better to strike a deal and do it now."
Commentators supportive of the Kremlin have asserted that Russia will prevail regardless of a peace agreement. The Russian news outlet Moskovsky Komsomolets noted the unexpected emergence of a new peace plan, suggesting a shift in the balance of power in Russia's favor.
Russia is also facing internal pressures. Following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military has incurred significant losses. Domestically, the economy is experiencing difficulties, marked by a growing budget deficit and declining revenues from oil and gas. The broadsheet Nezavisimaya Gazeta recently stated that "Russia's industry is somewhere between stagnation and decline." It remains unconfirmed whether these economic pressures will alter President Putin's strategic calculations regarding the conclusion of the 'special operation'.