Draft proposal includes major military limits for Ukraine and security guarantees from the West
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is prepared for what he called “honest work” with the United States after receiving a new draft plan aimed at ending the war with Russia. The proposal, shared with Kyiv by senior US officials, outlines significant changes to Ukraine’s military structure and its long-term security future.
According to documents published by US outlets, the plan would require Ukraine to give up the areas of Donbas it still controls, reduce its military to 600,000 personnel, and commit to not joining NATO. In return, Western allies would deploy European fighter jets in Poland and offer what the plan describes as “reliable security guarantees,” though details of those guarantees remain unclear.
The draft also proposes lifting many of the economic sanctions placed on Moscow and restoring Russia’s position in global financial and political structures, including a possible return to the G8. Such measures would mark a major shift in the West’s approach to Russia since the full-scale invasion began.
Zelensky’s office said Ukraine had agreed to work on the plan’s provisions “in a way that would bring about a just end to the war,” though it did not confirm how much input Kyiv had during the drafting process. US officials said the proposal was developed after discussions with Zelensky’s close advisers, including Rustem Umerov, who they say approved many elements before sending them to the president.
At the White House, officials rejected claims that the draft demanded sweeping concessions from Ukraine, saying the goal was a “durable and balanced” peace. They said the US had consulted both Russia and Ukraine while shaping the terms.
The plan arrives at a sensitive moment. Moscow dismissed the significance of the proposal, saying contacts with Washington did not amount to formal consultations. The Kremlin repeated that any agreement must address what it calls the “root causes” of the conflict, a phrase long associated with demands Kyiv considers unacceptable.
European leaders also appeared sidelined. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she was unaware of any direct involvement from Europe in shaping the plan and stressed that no agreement would work without European support.
Zelensky, who met senior US military officials in Kyiv on Thursday, said he would speak to President Donald Trump about the proposal in the coming days. In his nightly address, he said Ukraine needed a “worthy peace” that protected the dignity of its people.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its attacks across Ukraine. Strikes on Zaporizhzhia late Thursday killed at least five people, and earlier in the week a missile and drone attack on Ternopil left at least 26 dead, with more still missing. Ukraine also continued its long-range drone strikes on Russian military and energy sites, as the war nears its fourth year with no clear breakthrough on the battlefield.
The US plan is believed to contain 28 major points and remains under review as discussions continue. With Ukraine and Russia still deeply divided on core issues, the path to any agreement remains uncertain.
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