In a dramatic development that has shaken international diplomacy, the Trump administration secretly drafted a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine that heavily favored Russian interests, according to US officials and sources familiar with the matter. The proposal, which emerged from clandestine meetings with a Kremlin confidant in Miami, has triggered a multiday trans-Atlantic crisis and strained relations with European allies.
The Genesis of the Controversial Peace Framework
The initiative began in October when President Trump ordered his national security team to develop a strategy to end the four-year Ukraine war, mirroring their recent success in brokering a Gaza ceasefire. During a flight back from the Middle East, envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner began crafting the initial draft that would evolve into the comprehensive peace framework.
What made this effort particularly controversial was the monthlong collaboration with Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin envoy with close ties to President Vladimir Putin. Dmitriev, who has a longstanding relationship with Kushner, was brought to Miami for three days of intensive discussions just before Halloween. The meetings took place over dinners and extended conversations at Witkoff's home, where the three men found common ground on the proposal's basic structure.
Kremlin-Influenced Terms Spark Outrage
The peace plan that emerged from these secret negotiations contained several provisions that alarmed Ukraine's supporters. Dmitriev insisted Ukraine should permanently abandon NATO membership aspirations and completely withdraw from the Donbas region and other territories claimed by Russia. He also proposed capping Ukraine's military strength at a figure significantly below its current 900,000-strong force.
Appealing to Trump's interest in expanding economic cooperation, Dmitriev suggested the US and Russia sign agreements covering artificial intelligence, energy, and other sectors. These terms reflected longstanding Kremlin demands that Ukraine had repeatedly rejected throughout the conflict.
When Ukrainian officials saw the proposal, their reaction was swift and critical. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's national security adviser, told Witkoff and Kushner bluntly that the plan favored Russia over Ukraine during meetings in Miami. This led to two phone calls between the American envoys and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on November 16 and the following weekend.
Diplomatic Fallout and Emergency Revisions
The situation escalated dramatically when the plan leaked last week, exposing terms that shocked European governments and Congressional supporters of Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio found himself fielding angry calls from European officials and concerned lawmakers, including Senator Angus King of Maine, who expressed confusion about the proposal's origins.
In a concerning development, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll reminded Ukrainian officials during his November 19 visit to Kyiv that the White House had previously cut off intelligence and weapons assistance to Ukraine, implying that President Trump could do so again if Ukraine resisted the peace deal.
The backlash forced emergency diplomatic maneuvers. Rubio, Witkoff, and Kushner hastily arranged meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva, where they agreed to modify the plan to make it more acceptable to Kyiv. The revisions included raising the cap on Ukraine's military size and removing language that barred NATO membership.
Despite the controversy, the Trump administration maintains that the plan represents a good-faith effort to engage both sides equally. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, "The idea that the United States of America isn't engaging with both sides equally in this war to bring it to an end is a complete and total fallacy."
President Trump himself expressed optimism about the prospects for peace, posting on social media: "Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don't believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening."
As diplomatic efforts continue, officials promise that the final peace plan will secure Ukraine's core objectives, though the episode has revealed significant tensions within the Western alliance regarding how to approach ending the prolonged conflict.
