US and Russia Draft Controversial Peace Plan for Ukraine

A new peace plan for Ukraine, reportedly drafted by US and Russian officials, has emerged. The plan proposes significant territorial concessions by Ukraine and a drastic reduction of its military, sparking a heated debate among international stakeholders.

Background and Context

Ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has prompted international intervention in an effort to broker peace. The new 28-point plan, allegedly backed by US President Donald Trump and drafted with input from Moscow, includes several controversial elements. The document outlines Ukraine's renouncement of Donbass and the recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, among other territories¹²³.

Key Developments

The US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has reportedly been working on this peace plan for over a month, receiving input from both Ukrainians and Russians⁴. However, the plan was outlined without the participation of Kiev⁵ and the details were leaked to the media, according to Sky News⁶.

As part of the draft proposal, Ukraine would be required to cede all of Donbass to Russia and significantly reduce its military⁷. Additionally, US President Trump's administration has signaled to Ukraine that it must accept Washington's latest peace plan⁷.

Furthermore, the plan allegedly includes a freeze on NATO expansion and a commitment of $100 billion in frozen Russian assets for rebuilding Ukraine⁸⁹.

Reactions and Implications

The proposal has been met with mixed reactions. While some see it as a necessary step towards ending the conflict, others view it as a capitulation. Officials in Kyiv have dismissed the plan as absurd and unacceptable¹⁰, while EU officials have expressed skepticism, stating that any peace plan needs Kyiv and Europe on board ¹¹.

However, the White House believes that the plan reflects the realities of the situation after five years of war, stating that it was crafted to find a win-win scenario ¹². According to Axios, Washington views the plan as a live document, indicating a readiness to amend it, but expects a serious attitude from Kiev¹³.

Current Status

The situation remains fluid, with more details of the US plan for Ukraine continuing to emerge¹⁴. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy now finds himself in a precarious position, needing to tread carefully over the peace plan or face a potential ultimatum from President Trump¹⁵.

In the midst of the controversy, the key figures behind the plan, namely Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and US envoy Steve Witkoff, find themselves under the spotlight¹⁶. As the world watches, Ukraine stands at a crossroads, with its decision likely to shape the future of the conflict and the region.