The United States and Ukraine have successfully navigated their disagreements regarding former President Donald Trump's proposed 28-point peace plan to end the ongoing war, reaching a consensus on a revised framework that addresses Kyiv's primary concerns about the initial proposal being overly favorable toward Moscow.
From 28 to 19 Points: The Revised Peace Framework
Following productive discussions in Geneva, Washington agreed to modify the original plan, resulting in what both nations are calling a "refined peace framework." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the significant reduction in points, stating, "As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points – no longer 28 – and many of the right elements have been taken into account in this framework."
The most contentious element removed from the new 19-point plan was the requirement for Ukraine to surrender Luhansk and Donetsk territories to Russia, according to reports from the New York Post. Ukraine had consistently maintained that ceding these Donbas regions was completely unacceptable.
President Zelensky indicated that his team has reviewed the new draft and described it as "the right approach," though he noted that sensitive issues would require direct discussion with President Trump at a later meeting. While White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized Trump's desire to finalize an agreement quickly, she clarified that no specific meeting between the two leaders has been scheduled yet.
Key Changes in the Revised Agreement
The updated peace framework represents significant concessions from the original proposal that had raised alarms among US officials, European allies, and Ukrainian leadership. Beyond removing the Donbas surrender requirement, the revised plan also eliminates the provision requiring Ukraine to abandon its NATO aspirations as a condition for peace with Russia.
Zelensky's positive assessment that the updated plan now includes "correct" points suggests his government has successfully influenced the proposal to better protect Ukrainian interests. This development comes after the original 28-point plan prompted serious concerns that the Trump administration might pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace deal heavily weighted toward Moscow.
Background: The Original 28-Point Proposal
The initial peace proposal had caught multiple governments by surprise with its extensive concessions to Russian interests. The controversial plan included recognition of Crimea and other Russian-controlled territories, requiring Ukraine to dramatically reduce its military strength to between 400,000-600,000 personnel, surrender all long-range weapons, and formally abandon NATO security guarantees.
Additional provisions proposed stationing European fighter jets in Poland and establishing mechanisms to reinstate global sanctions if Russia were to invade Ukraine again. The territorial arrangements would have recognized Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk as de facto Russian territories while freezing control of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia along current contact lines, with Russia relinquishing other agreed territories outside these five regions.
In response to Trump's original blueprint, European allies of Ukraine developed a counter-proposal suggesting cessation of fighting at present front lines and including NATO-style US security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Moscow immediately rejected this alternative, with Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov dismissing the European plan as "completely unconstructive and does not work for us."
The ongoing negotiations represent critical developments in the prolonged conflict, with the revised 19-point framework potentially creating a more balanced foundation for future peace discussions between the involved parties.
