A fresh peace proposal—stance really—from the United States is hardly a surprise. This controversial, detailed 28-point plan for Ukraine has raised alarm bells among high-level Ukrainian officials. The plan, discussed by Steve Witkoff, a special envoy appointed by former President Donald Trump, and Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposes substantial territorial concessions from Ukraine to Russia.
The proposal even goes so far as to have Ukraine cede the entire Donetsk region, including areas not controlled by Russia. Moreover, it would leave Russia in full control of Luhansk and Crimea, effectively reinforcing its territorial gains from the ongoing conflict. Such a demilitarized buffer zone, which would be acknowledged by the international community as Russian territory, would be created under this proposal. Beyond this, the proposed annexation would seek to freeze today’s front lines in the areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
US President Biden has strongly encouraged Ukraine to pursue just such a framework. He thinks it could be a good basis on which to settle the almost four-year long dispute. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly and unequivocally ruled out any prospect of recognizing Russian control over occupied territories. They are completely unwilling to even discuss any restriction on their military capabilities.
Witkoff emphasized the necessity of territorial concessions during his conversation with Ushakov, stating, “Now, me to you, I know what it’s going to take to get a peace deal done: Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere.” To reach “peace,” the president, too, has suggested Russia must assert control over the entire Donetsk region. He added that a standalone territorial exchange could be an option.
He called on the leaders in Moscow and Washington to establish a bilateral framework for peace, taking lessons from the common Gaza ceasefire agreement. Putin reacted to Witkoff’s proposals with surprising enthusiasm. He suggested the US plan might set the stage for an ultimate peaceful resolution of the matter. Nonetheless, the Kremlin has insisted that it has not entered into concrete negotiations over the proposal with Washington.
Trump’s position toward Moscow appears to have become more robust around the time of Witkoff’s conversation with Ushakov. Witkoff provided more tactical guidance to help Putin in his one-on-one with Trump on the peace deal.
Given these changes to the conflict, Trump said that he would like to see direct discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin. He stated, “I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages.”
Despite the push for negotiations, Trump criticized Putin’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine, stating, “I don’t know why he continues with this war. He just doesn’t want to end that war. And I think it’s making him look very bad.”
It is a fraught and complicated moment in time. Ukrainian leaders are rightly standing firm against Russian encroachments on their sovereignty over occupied territories while navigating increasing Western demands for negotiation.