Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted a high-ranking US army delegation in Kyiv amidst a brewing diplomatic storm over a controversial peace proposal reportedly drafted by US and Russian officials. The plan has been met with fierce rejection from Kyiv, where officials have labelled it 'absurd' and unacceptable.
A Proposal for Capitulation
According to media reports, the sweeping 28-point plan was drafted by Kirill Dmitriev, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, with support from the former US president. Kyiv was not consulted on the proposal, which one European diplomat claimed they only learned about from news reports.
The plan's terms are seen by Ukrainian officials as a blueprint for surrender. It demands that Ukraine cede the northern part of the Donbas region, which it currently controls, to Russia. Furthermore, it would require Ukraine to cut the size of its army in half and relinquish its long-range weapons, severely limiting its defensive capabilities.
Additional clauses grant formal status to the Russian language and the Russian Orthodox Church, fulfilling long-standing Kremlin demands. The proposal also rules out any foreign troops on Ukrainian soil, preventing a potential UK and French-led peacekeeping force, though it offers unspecified US security guarantees.
International Reaction and Scepticism
The proposal has caused unease among European allies. Leaders in Brussels stated they were not warned in advance about the White House initiative. Poland's foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, emphasised that Europe is the main supporter of Ukraine and expects to be consulted on any peace efforts.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that the plan does not envisage Russia making any concessions, stating, "We have to understand that in this war, there is one aggressor and one victim." A Western diplomat suggested the timing was strategic, aiming to exploit domestic political scandals currently challenging President Zelenskyy's administration.
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine’s foreign policy parliamentary committee, dismissed the plan as a 'provocation' designed to stir up division and disorientate Kyiv's allies. He said there are no signs the Kremlin is ready for serious negotiations, with Putin instead trying to stall for time.
Diplomatic Manoeuvres Amidst Ongoing Conflict
The controversial peace push comes as President Zelenskyy met with US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, whom Trump named as a 'special representative' on a fact-finding mission to Kyiv. It remains unclear if the US multi-point plan was discussed.
Meanwhile, the war continues to rage. In recent months, Russia has escalated systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, and on Wednesday, bombings in western cities, including Ternopil, killed 26 people, among them three children.
Downing Street expressed support for Trump's desire to end the war but stressed that 'only the Ukrainian people can determine their future'. The White House's deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, declined to comment directly on the peace plan but acknowledged the administration's focus on reaching a settlement.
