Marta Gichko10:27, 21.11.25

The plan’s prospects for passage appear slim, but the document demonstrates the Trump team’s approach to diplomacy with Russia and its vision for ending the war.

The peace proposal that Donald Trump’s team presented to Moscow and Kyiv contains demands that largely align with the Kremlin’s military goals, Bloomberg writes .

The document, a copy of which was obtained by the publication, stipulates that Ukraine must:

• recognize Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk as “de facto Russian”;
• withdraw troops from the parts of Donetsk that are still not occupied by the Russian Federation;
• agree to the creation of a demilitarized buffer zone, formally recognized as Russian territory;
• hold elections within 100 days;
• refuse to join NATO and enshrine this in the Constitution.

In turn, Russia, according to the plan, should not introduce troops into the demilitarized zone and “undertakes not to attack European countries,” although the mechanism for monitoring this point is not specified.

The Role of the United States and Economic Conditions

The plan provides for security guarantees for Ukraine from the United States in exchange for compensation to Washington.

In exchange, Russia will be reinstated in the G8 and sanctions will be lifted. Furthermore, the US and Russia will further expand their economic partnership and create a joint investment fund.

It is envisaged that $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be used to rebuild Ukraine under US leadership.

According to Bloomberg, the text was agreed upon by Trump spokesman Steve Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. This isn’t the first initiative Witkoff has put forward to evoke skepticism in Kyiv and resistance in Europe.

Despite White House claims the plan has Trump’s support, talks remain “uncertain,” sources say.

Reaction of Ukraine and its allies

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly stated that he is reviewing the document, but there is no sign of willingness to agree to such terms. Former US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith has criticized the plan:

“I’m concerned about how little effort has been put into this. A whole bunch of people, starting with Zelensky himself, will declare it stillborn. He’s being cautious right now, saying he’s studying the plan, but I don’t see any circumstances under which he’d be willing to accept it.”

NATO countries also oppose it, as the proposal limits the Alliance’s right to expand, which requires the unanimous consent of all 32 members.

The prime ministers of Great Britain and Greece, Keir Starmer and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stated that any agreement with Russia is only possible with the consent of Ukraine.

EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas stressed: “Peace in Ukraine is impossible without Kyiv’s participation.”

Despite the plan containing virtually all of the Kremlin’s key demands, the United States continues consultations with Kyiv. This week, a delegation led by US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll arrived in Ukraine to discuss alternative ways to end the war, including the possibility of increased military assistance.

(C)UNIAN 2025