Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed he will negotiate with Donald Trump over a US-backed peace plan that demands Ukraine make significant concessions to end Russia's invasion. The Ukrainian president's office stated on Thursday that Zelenskyy received the draft plan, prepared by US and Russian officials, and will discuss it with Trump in the coming days.
In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not disrupt diplomatic efforts. 'Ukraine needs peace and Ukraine will do everything so that no one in the world can say we are upending diplomacy,' he stated, calling for a constructive process with America and partners.
The 28-point proposal, reportedly drawn up by Russian and US officials with Trump's support, closely mirrors Moscow's early 2022 demands. It envisages Ukraine ceding Crimea and Donbas, freezing frontlines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and limiting its army to 600,000 personnel. Ukraine would also agree never to join Nato, with no foreign troops on its soil, though European jets would be based in Poland for protection.
Ukrainian officials have denounced the plan as 'absurd' and a capitulation. 'It means capitulation for Ukraine, Europe and America,' said Roman Kostenko, a Ukrainian official. Kyiv was not consulted, and European diplomats learned of it through media reports.
Zelenskyy met with US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on Thursday, who arrived from Washington with messages from the White House. Driscoll is expected to travel to Moscow next week to discuss the plan. US diplomats said Trump is pursuing peace with 'an incredible sense of momentum' and an aggressive timeline.
