Russia has stated it is yet to receive anything official from the US on its peace plan, after Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelensky indicated readiness to collaborate with the Trump administration on its vision to conclude the ongoing war.
The widely leaked US plan includes contentious proposals previously rejected by Kyiv, such as ceding control of parts of the eastern Donetsk region, downsizing its military, and pledging not to join NATO. These elements appear heavily biased in favor of Moscow, prompting a cautious response from Zelensky's office on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Russian military actions continue unabated, with six fatalities reported overnight in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and one in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region. The draft plan arises amid claims from Russia of minor territorial advances in eastern Ukraine and a domestic crisis for Zelensky, involving a $100 million corruption scandal implicating high-level officials.
The White House has countered allegations of Ukraine being excluded from the plan's creation, asserting that US special envoy Steve Witkoff engaged directly with Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev. An unnamed US official stated that the proposal was formulated quickly post-discussions with Rustem Umerov, a leading member of Zelensky's administration, who reportedly agreed to most of its content.
Umerov has emphasized that he did not give any assessments or endorsements of the plan, indicating that Ukraine is still evaluating its partners' strategies. Zelensky has refrained from openly criticizing the initiative, expressing appreciation for Trump's commitment to restoring security in Europe, possibly to sustain favorable relations despite the administration's leniency towards Russia.
The Kremlin, however, reiterated it has not received any formal communication regarding the peace plan. Spokesperson Dmitri Peskov remarked, 'We are seeing some new elements, but officially we haven't received anything. There has been no substantive discussion of those points,' while expressing Russia's ongoing openness to peace negotiations.
The Russian government has long stated that any resolution must address the fundamental causes of the conflict, which it has framed as a series of maximalist demands interpreted by Kyiv as tantamount to surrender. Trump's mounting frustration over negotiations has led him to impose new sanctions on Russia’s major oil producers, which came into effect on Friday.
Currently, Russia occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's territory, with ongoing slowly progressing military operations noted amidst substantial combat losses. Both Kyiv and its European allies have advocated for a sustainable peace that ensures no further territorial integrity loss.
On the European front, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated she was not aware of any European involvement in drafting the peace plan, adding, 'For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans onboard.' German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul characterized the draft as a preliminary document outlining various topics and options.
Recent discussions among UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz with Zelensky suggested the proposals include restricting Ukraine's military to 600,000 personnel, stationing European fighter jets in neighboring Poland, and Ukraine limiting its armament.
The leaked document also posits 'reliable security guarantees' for Ukraine, although specifics remain vague. It suggests expectations that Russia would refrain from invading neighboring states and limiting NATO's expansion. Furthermore, it proposes the reintegration of Russia into the global economy through the lifting of sanctions and potential membership in the G7, reverting it to the G8.
Residents affected by the conflict have expressed skepticism, with one widow of a Ukrainian soldier claiming, 'This is not a peace plan, it's a plan to continue the war.' Another voice from an occupied territory lamented, 'I'm trying to keep my sanity in constant propaganda that Ukraine has forgotten us'; hoping for a rejection of any harmful agreements.
In Zaporizhzhia, where recent strikes have inflicted property damage, a soldier implied that if Ukraine does not receive the necessary support to resolve the conflict, it may fall upon Europe to intervene.
