Trump’s plan to end the war in Ukraine would cede territory to Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Ukraine would cede territory to Russia and limit the size of kyiv’s military, according to a draft proposal obtained Thursday by The News.

Washington and Moscow worked together on the draft, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with a U.S. representative on Thursday. If enacted, it would resolve a conflict that began nearly four years ago requiring significant concessions from kyiv and European leaders.

For example, the proposal would not only prevent Ukraine from joining NATO but would also prevent future expansion of the alliance. Such a move would be a significant victory for Moscow, which sees NATO as a threat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin would also gain ground he has been unable to gain on the battlefield. Under the draft, Moscow would control the entire eastern Donbas region, although about 14% still remains in Ukrainian hands.

via News

There would be a path to lifting sanctions on Russia and returning the country to what was formerly known as the Group of 8, which includes many of the world’s largest economies.

Russia would commit to not carrying out future attacks, something the White House considers a concession. Additionally, $100 billion in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to the reconstruction of Ukraine.

However, handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine. It would also be illegal under Ukraine’s constitution. Zelenskyy has repeatedly dismissed that possibility.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been quietly working on the peace plan for a month, taking input from both Ukrainians and Russians on terms that are acceptable to both sides, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Putin, have been key in drafting the proposal.

In other developments, Russia’s military chief, General Valery Gerasimov, announced that Moscow’s forces had taken full control of Kupiansk in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, although he also said some Ukrainian troops remained in the city.

The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces denied Gerasimov’s claims and said kyiv forces remained in control of Kupiansk.

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Madhani reported from Washington. News writers Sam McNeil in Brussels, Samya Kullab in kyiv and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.

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