🔹 Rising Pressure for a Rapid Peace Agreement
Former US President Donald Trump is pushing aggressively for a quick peace deal in Ukraine. Washington reportedly wanted Kyiv to accept a proposal before Thanksgiving — a plan Ukraine viewed as dangerously close to surrender.
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| Updated Ukraine Peace Plan Gains Momentum: A Deal Kyiv Might Finally Accept |
Determined not to be forced into unfair terms, Ukraine sent top officials to Geneva for urgent negotiations. Delegates from the US, Germany, France, and the UK joined intense shuttle diplomacy that lasted throughout Sunday.
🔹 Initial Proposal Sparked Concern in Kyiv
The opening draft was so heavily aligned with Russian demands that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had to deny it was crafted in Moscow.
Kyiv’s lead negotiator, Andriy Yermak, was seen visibly tense — a reflection of how unacceptable the original conditions were.
Trump warned that Ukraine must agree quickly or face unspecified consequences, leaving Kyiv with little choice but to engage.
🔹 A New Framework Takes Shape
By Sunday night, Rubio announced “tremendous progress” and confirmed a new updated and revised framework document. According to Ukrainian officials, the revised plan includes a 19-point proposal that removes many of the most controversial elements.
European amendments published earlier appear to have shifted the plan significantly.
Key reported changes include:
- ❌ No automatic veto on future NATO membership
- ❌ Removal of a troop cap on Ukraine’s armed forces
- 🚫 No permanent Western troop presence, but not a full ban
- ❌ No free territorial concessions to Russia
- 🤝 Occupied regions to be recovered through diplomacy, as Zelensky previously suggested
- ❌ War-crimes amnesty removed
- 🛡️ Inclusion of security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the deal is now “significantly modified”, calling it a much more balanced proposal.
🔹 Why the Sudden Shift?
Analysts say the dramatic transformation may reflect European pressure and growing skepticism about the Kremlin-influenced original draft.
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff — who previously echoed Putin’s narratives after visiting Moscow — was believed to be behind earlier pro-Russian elements. But the new version looks closer to something Ukraine might accept over time.
🔹 But Will Russia Agree?
Despite diplomatic momentum, experts warn that Russia appears confident on the battlefield and feels no urgency to compromise.
Political turmoil in Kyiv, difficulties mobilizing troops, and recent Russian gains all strengthen Moscow’s negotiating stance.
Analyst Tatiana Stanovaya notes:
“Russia’s position is: ‘Here are our demands. Take them and we stop the war; reject them and we continue until you’re ready.’”
🔹 What Happens Next?
While Trump now claims “something good” may be coming, it remains unclear whether the revised plan can satisfy both sides or whether negotiations will loop back to a dead end.
For Ukraine, the crucial test is whether the final agreement provides real security guarantees and avoids rewarding aggression.