Ukraine Under Pressure: US-Russia Secret Peace Plan Reportedly Demands Major Concessions Amid Kyiv Visit
Nov 20, 2025
Ukraine
Geopolitics
Ukraine
Geopolitics
Reports suggest a secret 28-point US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine includes major concessions like territorial loss and military reduction, raising concerns in
Ukraine Under Pressure: Secret US-Russia Peace Plan Reports Spark Alarm in Kyiv
Ukraine finds itself under intense scrutiny following recent reports of a purported secret peace initiative between the United States and Russia. This unfolding narrative coincides critically with a high-level U.S. military delegation's visit to Kyiv, officially characterized as a "fact-finding mission" aimed at discussing strategies to end the ongoing conflict with Ukrainian officials. The timing of these developments is particularly sensitive, emerging just a day after media outlets began circulating allegations that Washington and Moscow had quietly collaborated on a comprehensive 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine, reportedly drafted without Kyiv's direct input.
Details of the Alleged Peace Framework
The rumored peace framework, initially highlighted by Axios and subsequently corroborated by other prominent media, including the Financial Times and Reuters, citing anonymous sources, allegedly demands substantial concessions from Ukraine. These reported conditions include the potential ceding of territory in its eastern Donbas region to Russia, a drastic 50% reduction in the size of its armed forces, and the relinquishment of certain categories of weaponry. A specific report in The Telegraph even suggested a scenario where Russia could gain administrative control over the Donbas, with Ukraine retaining legal ownership and Moscow essentially paying "rent" for the land. However, CNBC noted its inability to independently confirm the details contained within these media reports.
Mixed Reactions and Official Responses
A senior Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, confirmed that Kyiv had received "signals" regarding a set of U.S. proposals aimed at ending the war, but emphasized that Ukraine had played no part in their preparation. On the Russian side, the Kremlin denied any "innovations on possible peace proposals" since the August 2025 meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov notably declined to share any public information when directly asked about the Axios report.
While the White House has refrained from explicitly confirming the existence of the 28-point peace plan, which is reportedly modeled on the Gaza peace agreement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio did confirm that new proposals were in development. Rubio posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Ending a complex and deadly war... requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas," and underscored that "achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions." He further indicated that the U.S. would continue to formulate potential solutions based on input from all parties involved in the conflict.
Ukraine's Precarious Position
The alleged plan places Ukraine in a challenging dilemma. Although President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not publicly commented on the 28-point proposal, it is widely expected to be a key agenda item during his discussions with the visiting U.S. military delegation. Zelenskyy had previously remarked that "only President Trump and the United States have sufficient power to make this war come to an end," expressing Ukraine's willingness to engage in "any other meaningful formats that could yield results." However, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia publicly questioned the reports, suggesting on X that Moscow might be orchestrating a campaign to hype "a factory of unrealistic plans."
The prospect of Ukraine accepting such significant concessions to halt the war remains highly uncertain, with likely strong domestic opposition. Nevertheless, Kyiv's considerable reliance on U.S. military aid leaves it in a vulnerable position. Despite continued staunch support from its European allies, the delivery of both military and financial assistance has notably slowed compared to the initial stages of the conflict.
International Discontent and Expert Warnings
European diplomats have also expressed unease regarding reports of a peace plan developed without the direct involvement of Ukraine or its regional partners. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that "for any plan to work, it needs to have Ukrainians and Europeans on board." She critically added, "In this war, there is one aggressor and one victim. So far, we haven't heard of any concessions from Russia's side."
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) issued a stern warning: if verified, the reported 28-point plan would equate to "Ukraine's full capitulation" and would undeniably "set conditions for renewed Russian aggression against Ukraine." The ISW experts argue that such a proposal would strip Ukraine of essential defensive capabilities and strategic positions without any specified reciprocal compromise, effectively surrendering vital territory to Russia and allowing Moscow to conserve resources for future offensives.
The ISW concluded that this alleged framework fundamentally aligns with Russia's maximalist territorial demands from the 2022 Istanbul negotiations, which were presented when battlefield conditions seemed more favorable to Russia. This suggests that Russia's core objectives concerning Ukraine have remained largely unchanged since the invasion.
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