Trump's Ukraine peace plan draws wary response from Kyiv
Trump's Ukraine peace plan draws wary response from Kyiv
Ukraine weighs Trump's 28-point peace proposal, fearing territorial concessions and a challenge to NATO ties as Kyiv seeks secure guarantees.
The leaked draft outlines a 28-point framework that would require Kyiv to cede territory in Donetsk and recognise Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk as de facto Russian. It also proposes freezing the conflict in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia along the line of contact, effectively allowing Moscow to keep the areas it has seized. Kyiv has pushed back, saying such terms strike at Ukraine's dignity and security. Zelenskyy warned of a 'very difficult choice' between sovereignty and a key partnership, while Trump urged Kyiv to accept the plan by Thanksgiving.
Other elements include capping Ukraine's armed forces at 600,000 personnel and formally renouncing its bid to join NATO. The plan suggests halting NATO's eastward expansion and lifting sanctions on Russia, while offering Ukraine 'reliable security guarantees' that remain unspecified. Separately, the administration is reported to have circulated a three-point package promising NATO-style assurances to Kyiv.
Russia appeared to respond positively to the outline, but Kyiv and its European partners are scrambling to craft an alternative blueprint that preserves dignity while advancing security. The challenge is clear: any peace framework must balance territorial realities with long-standing Ukrainian goals and allied commitments to NATO.
Officials also convened in Geneva to discuss the proposals, with Ukrainian aides describing the opening session as productive. The talks underscore how fragile the search for a durable settlement remains, as negotiators weigh a path between concession and alliance commitments.
Cover image source: Rubio says Ukraine meeting in Geneva ‘probably best so far’ 🔗
