Vladimir Putin has expressed approval of a US proposal that aligns with several significant Russian demands.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing his nation with a speech given outside his office—a setting reserved for important announcements—called for unity among Ukrainians and vowed never to betray his country.
Ukraine has rejected the plan’s terms in the past as capitulation, and a deal on that basis could test the stability of Ukrainian society after nearly four years of relentless warfare.
Three sources told Reuters that Ukraine was working on a counter-proposal to the 28-point plan with the UK, France and Germany.
The Europeans have not been consulted on the US plan and have expressed strong support for Ukraine.
“We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “This is a very dangerous moment for all.”
He mentioned having reached an agreement with Vance to have their advisers collaborate in seeking a viable path to peace.
Umerov “agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and presented it to President Zelenskyy,” a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.
Umerov denied agreeing to any of the plan’s terms and said he had played only a technical role organising talks.
What’s in the proposed peace plan?
The US plan would require Ukraine to withdraw from territory it still controls in eastern provinces that Russia claims to have annexed, while Russia would give up smaller amounts of land it holds in other regions.
Ukraine would be permanently barred from joining the NATO military alliance, and its armed forces would be capped at 600,000 troops. NATO would agree never to station troops there.
Ukraine would also hold snap elections under the plan.
Sanctions against Russia would be gradually lifted, Moscow would be invited back into the G8 group of industrialised countries, and frozen Russian assets would be pooled in an investment fund, with the US given some of the profits.
One of Ukraine’s main demands, for enforceable guarantees equivalent to NATO’s mutual defence clause to deter Russia from attacking again, is dealt with in a single line with no details: “Ukraine will receive robust security guarantees.”
Trump said on Friday he expected the “powerful” sanctions to have their intended effect on Russia, adding: “Their whole economy is based on oil”.
He said he would not remove the sanctions before the implementation of the 28-point plan.
