Zelensky says ready to work with Trump on US plan to end Ukraine-Russia war
US-backed blueprint reportedly requires Ukraine to cede territory to Russia and significantly downsize its military
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Kyiv was “working” on a US-drafted peace proposal, insisting it must ensure a “dignified” peace for Ukraine after the document adhered to many of Moscow’s demands.
“We are working on the document prepared by the American side. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace,” Zelensky said on social media after holding a call with European allies.
According to the US-backed plan Kyiv would be required to give up the entire Donbas region and significantly downsize its military, conditions long seen by Ukraine’s allies as tantamount to capitulation.
The plan says Ukraine would have to limit its army to 600,000 troops and that it would “receive robust security guarantees”, without providing further details.
It makes several concessions to Russia, including that Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognised as de facto Russian by the United States and that Ukrainian forces will withdraw from part of the Donetsk region that they control.
“This plan was drawn up immediately following discussions with one of the most senior members of President Zelensky’s administration, Rustem Umerov, who agreed to most the plan, after making several modifications and presented it to President Zelensky,” a senior US official said.