Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to speak with US President Donald Trump after Washington presented Kyiv with a draft peace plan aimed at ending the war with Russia. The proposal, reportedly crafted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev without Ukraine’s participation, has already caused unease across Kyiv and European capitals.
A statement from Zelensky’s office said the US believed the draft could “help reinvigorate diplomacy,” adding that Ukraine had agreed to review the provisions in pursuit of a “just end to the war.” Kyiv reiterated that it supports “all substantive proposals capable of bringing genuine peace closer,” but refrained from disclosing any details.
However, reports from Axios, the Financial Times, and Reuters suggest the plan asks Ukraine to surrender the remaining territories it controls in the Donbas, significantly reduce the size of its military, and give up key weapon capabilities. These demands appear heavily aligned with Moscow’s interests, explaining Ukraine’s muted response.
Despite rumours that the proposal contains 28 points, the Kremlin has downplayed its significance. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that while there have been “contacts” with the US, there is “no process that could be called consultations.”
Zelensky’s office issued the statement after he met senior US military leaders in Kyiv, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, General Randy George, and General Chris Donahue. European leaders, meanwhile, voiced frustration at being excluded from the drafting process, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressing that “any plan must have Ukrainians and Europeans on board.”
Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko echoed these concerns, saying the country “had not been consulted,” calling the situation “painful for most Ukrainians.”
As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches, both Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on core issues. Ukraine continues striking Russian infrastructure with long-range drones, while Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities show no signs of slowing—most recently killing at least 26 people in Ternopil.
The path to peace, it seems, remains fraught and deeply contested.
