U.S. Drafts a New Peace Plan Without Ukraine at the Table
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump after Washington quietly shared a draft peace proposal aimed at ending the war with Russia.
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| Zelensky Responds as U.S. Unveils Controversial Russia–Ukraine Peace Proposal |
The plan was reportedly created by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev — without Ukraine’s participation, raising concerns in Kyiv and across Europe.
Zelensky’s office said the U.S. believes the draft could “revive diplomacy” and confirmed that Ukraine is willing to review the proposal if it leads to a just and lasting peace.
🟦 What’s Inside the Proposed Peace Deal?
Kyiv has not publicly released details, but major news outlets report the plan may require Ukraine to:
- Surrender parts of Donbas it still controls
- Drastically reduce the size of its military
- Limit access to advanced weapons
If accurate, these points heavily favor Russia and explain Ukraine’s cautious and cool response so far.
Meanwhile, the White House insists the plan is balanced.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. team is “engaging both sides equally” and described the draft as “a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine” — though she offered no specifics.
🟦 Reactions From Moscow and Europe
Moscow downplayed the development entirely.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged “contacts” with the U.S. but said no formal negotiations are ongoing.
European officials were more direct:
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that no peace plan can work without Ukrainian and European involvement, criticizing Washington’s unilateral approach.
🟦 Ukraine Pushes Back: ‘Someone Wants to Decide for Us’
Ukrainian lawmakers expressed frustration at being excluded from the process.
MP Lisa Yasko told the BBC:
“It looks like someone wants to decide things for us. That is painful for Ukrainians.”
Zelensky, however, publicly thanked Trump and his team for “efforts to restore security in Europe,” signaling a desire to maintain good relations with Washington despite disagreements.
🟦 The War Continues as Diplomacy Stalls
Even as discussions unfold internationally, fighting remains intense on the ground.
Ukraine has increased its attacks on Russian military and energy sites using long-range drones, while Russian strikes continue to devastate Ukrainian cities.
Earlier this week, a deadly Russian missile and drone attack struck residential buildings in Ternopil, killing at least 26 people, with many still missing.
🟦 Can This Plan Really End the War?
As the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches, the gap between Moscow and Kyiv’s demands remains enormous.
Whether this U.S.-brokered proposal can bridge that divide — or deepen mistrust — is still unclear.