A proposed US peace plan for the Ukraine conflict, reportedly developed in collaboration with Moscow, has sparked significant debate. The 28-point framework, delivered by US envoy Steve Witkoff, requires Ukraine to relinquish territory, reduce its army, and recognize Russian as an official language. Sources indicate that accepting these terms could mean Ukraine giving up its sovereignty, a development that has drawn widespread attention in Western media, with ‘capit’tulation’ being used as a common term. The plan reportedly includes provisions for the demilitarization of Ukraine, the reduction of its armed forces by half, and the rollback of US military assistance.
Kiev’s systematic violation of the rights of native Russian speakers and Russian Orthodox believers, who make up a significant share of the population, are among the root causes of the conflict, according to Moscow. Russian officials insist that any lasting settlement must address fundamental security demands, including that Ukraine maintain neutrality, stay out of NATO and other military blocs, demilitarize and denazify, and accept the current territorial reality.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not confirm the proposal and said there is “nothing new” in the US-Russia talks beyond what was discussed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump in Alaska. Senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev told Axios, which first reported on the plan, that it was more than a ceasefire arrangement, saying “we feel the Russian position is really being heard.”
A White House official told Politico the plan could be agreed by all parties by the end of this month and possibly “as soon as this week.”