Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signaled readiness for “constructive, honest” work with Washington on a U.S.-backed plan to end the war, after meeting U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll in Kyiv.
The 28-point draft plan, seen by Reuters but not officially published, proposes major concessions to Russia including Ukraine giving up the entire Donbas region, recognizing Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk as de facto Russian, and limiting Ukraine’s armed forces to 600,000 troops.
A senior U.S. official said the plan was developed after discussions with Ukrainian official Rustem Umerov, who agreed to most of it before presenting it to Zelenskiy.
European Resistance
EU foreign ministers signaled they would not support any peace deal that amounts to Ukraine’s capitulation.
France’s foreign minister underscored that peace must be “just” and “durable,” not capitulation.
Key Provisions of the U.S.-Backed Plan
Ukraine withdraws from parts of Donetsk still under its control
NATO halts expansion and does not station troops in Ukraine
A Russia–Ukraine–Europe non-aggression pact
Gradual lifting of sanctions and Russia’s reintegration into the global economy
Russia invited back to the G8
A U.S.–Russia agreement covering energy, AI, rare earth mining in the Arctic, and more
The White House said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff had been quietly working on the plan for a month, with Trump’s support.
Kyiv’s Position
Zelenskiy’s office avoided commenting directly on the concessions but said he emphasized principles important to Ukrainians and expects to discuss peace options with President Trump soon.
Russian Reaction
The Kremlin downplayed the initiative, saying no formal consultations are underway, and reiterated Putin’s demand that any agreement address Russia’s long-standing political conditions.
Battlefield Situation
Russia claims it has taken Kupiansk and most of Pokrovsk. Ukraine denies both claims. Neither can be independently verified, though Russian-released video shows troops moving through parts of Pokrovsk.
The renewed U.S. push for diplomacy comes as Ukrainian forces face battlefield setbacks and a domestic corruption scandal that led Parliament to fire two cabinet ministers.
With information from Reuters.
