The Trump administration has formulated a comprehensive 28-point peace proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, according to officials familiar with the matter. This detailed blueprint calls for significant territorial concessions from Ukraine and represents the latest effort by President Trump to broker a settlement to the nearly four-year war.
Key Elements of the Peace Proposal
The proposed peace plan, drafted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in consultation with Kremlin confidant Kirill Dmitriev, contains several controversial provisions. Ukraine would be required to hand over the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia, including territories currently under Kyiv's control. Additionally, Ukraine would need to abandon its aspirations to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for at least several years.
Another significant element of the plan prohibits Ukraine from hosting any international peacekeeping force within its borders. This provision directly contradicts what Kyiv and European nations have long considered essential for deterring future Russian aggression after any peace settlement. In exchange for these concessions, Moscow would promise not to launch further attacks against Ukraine or other European countries, with this commitment codified through legislation.
Administration's Strategy and Challenges
The Trump administration is employing the same approach that successfully achieved a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza last month. This strategy involves drafting a multi-point outline and then pressuring the conflicting parties to accept it. However, officials acknowledge that this blueprint is likely to encounter strong opposition in Kyiv and from European governments.
President Trump has expressed support for the new plan, which materialized after he directed aides to develop proposals incorporating incentives for both sides to reach an agreement. The administration is banking on Russia's desire for revived economic relations with the West and Ukraine's urgent need for reconstruction funds to catalyze a settlement.
Trump's yearlong effort to mediate a peace deal has so far yielded limited results, despite holding a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and multiple meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The American president recently voiced disappointment that his relationship with Putin hasn't led to a swiftly negotiated peace agreement, noting during the 2024 presidential campaign that he would secure such a deal within 24 hours of returning to the White House.
International Reactions and Implications
The proposed plan has already generated significant concern among European allies. Johann Wadephul, Germany's foreign affairs minister, revealed that his country hadn't been briefed on the specifics of the proposal. Various officials noted that the framework, as they understand it, incorporates many elements long considered unacceptable from the Kremlin's wishlist.
Analysts warn that forcing Ukraine to withdraw from Donbas—where it has mounted its strongest resistance to Russian advances and maintains strategically important defensive positions—could make it easier for Kremlin forces to push into other regions of the country. Ukraine and European nations have consistently argued that yielding to Russia's core demands would seriously undermine Kyiv's sovereignty and security.
The emergence of these peace plan details coincides with high-level military discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and two senior U.S. Army generals recently met in Kyiv with Ukraine's defense minister and chief of defense, marking the highest-level American visit since Trump returned to office.
As the administration renews its peace push, Trump's top envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg—one of Kyiv's most ardent supporters within the administration—has informed colleagues that he plans to leave his position in January, according to an administration official.
