US Proposes Controversial Peace Plan for Ukraine Conflict

The United States has indicated to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the necessity of considering a Washington-drafted peace framework that suggests Ukraine may have to give up portions of its territory and reduce its military capabilities. This proposal, part of a renewed diplomatic effort, marks a significant step by the US in attempting to influence the terms for resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the plan includes Ukraine relinquishing some land to Russia and making further concessions. While Washington appears to be advocating for Kyiv to accept these proposals, there has been no official statement from the White House acknowledging this information.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on social media platform X, stating that the US will continue developing potential ideas for concluding the war based on perspectives from both parties. He emphasised the complexity of the conflict, noting, "Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas. Achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions."

A senior Ukrainian official disclosed that Kyiv had received indications regarding a US-drafted plan, which had been discussed with Russia without Ukrainian involvement in its formulation. This report emerges as President Zelenskyy is in Turkey for discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and is set to meet US Army officials in Kyiv soon.

Following his meeting in Ankara, Zelenskyy did not directly address the US framework but stressed the importance of robust American leadership in the peace process. He stated, "The main thing for stopping the bloodshed and achieving lasting peace is that we work in coordination with all our partners and that American leadership remains effective, strong." Zelenskyy further asserted that only the United States and President Donald Trump possess the necessary influence to end the war.

Zelenskyy acknowledged Erdogan's proposal for new negotiation formats and highlighted Turkey's readiness to serve as a platform for talks. These diplomatic developments have led to a significant increase in Ukrainian government bond prices, reflecting market optimism regarding a renewed commitment from the Trump administration to resolve the conflict.

Despite the apparent momentum towards negotiations, Russia has not indicated any willingness to soften its demands. Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently insisted that Ukraine must renounce its aspirations to join NATO and withdraw its forces from four regions that Russia claims as its own. Ukraine has firmly rejected these conditions, maintaining its stance on territorial integrity.

Currently, Russian forces control approximately 19 per cent of Ukrainian territory and continue to launch frequent assaults on energy infrastructure as winter approaches. Turkey, which facilitated earlier peace talks in 2022 and maintains diplomatic relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, is again seeking to act as a mediator in the conflict. The Kremlin has stated that its representatives will not participate in the discussions in Ankara but expressed that Putin is open to understanding the outcomes through both the US and Turkey.

In a separate report by Axios, it was revealed that the US plan proposes Ukraine ceding certain areas of eastern Ukraine not currently under Russian control in exchange for a security guarantee for Ukraine and Europe from the United States. However, European diplomats have expressed doubts about the feasibility of such proposals, with some suggesting they may be more a tactic to pressure Kyiv rather than a genuine effort for peace. One diplomat characterised the idea of Ukraine reducing its military forces as aligning more closely with Russian demands than as a serious proposal from the US.

Meanwhile, a US delegation, led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and including General Randy George, the Chief of Staff of the US Army, is presently in Kyiv for what the embassy describes as a fact-finding mission. The delegation is expected to meet with Zelenskyy soon, as discussions surrounding the proposed peace framework continue to unfold.