New Trump Administration Peace Proposal for Ukraine: An Overview

A new peace proposal for Ukraine, drafted by the Trump administration, suggests that Ukraine would have to cede the eastern Donbas region and limit the size of its military in exchange for U.S. security guarantees, according to a Western official familiar with the document. The 28-point plan, which has been reviewed by former President Donald Trump, represents the latest effort by the White House to bring an end to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. However, some of the proposal's provisions, including territorial concessions in areas not currently under Russian control, have previously been considered unacceptable by Ukrainian officials. U.S. officials believe there is a new opportunity to reinitiate peace discussions. Currently, the plan is still in its initial stages, with many details yet to be finalized. CNN has not had the opportunity to review the proposal and has reached out to the White House for further comments. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated late Wednesday that the document is more a collection of potential ideas rather than a fully formed proposal. He emphasized that resolving such a complicated and deadly conflict requires meaningful dialogue and realistic suggestions, highlighting that achieving lasting peace would necessitate difficult concessions from both sides involved in the conflict. Despite this, the proposal as it stands is expected to receive pushback from Ukraine and its allies, particularly due to the significant territorial concessions involved. The Donbas region, made up of Luhansk and Donetsk, remains partially controlled by Ukraine. Additionally, the proposal reportedly states that the current battle lines in the contested regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia should be frozen, preserving the present status quo. Ukraine would also be expected to downsize its military and retract some military capabilities, including powerful weaponry supplied during the course of the conflict. Other elements of the plan address the status of the Russian language and the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine after the cessation of hostilities. Moreover, the proposal includes U.S.-backed security assurances aimed at preventing further Russian aggression or an expansion of the conflict into Europe. Details about the plan were provided by a knowledgeable Western official. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been spearheading this initiative, and reports indicate that negotiations have gained momentum this week, as the administration perceives that the Kremlin may be signaling greater openness to a settlement. In parallel developments, a Pentagon delegation led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll visited Kyiv this week for discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top officials regarding this new peace plan. U.S. officials regard this visit as a critical step in rekindling peace talks that had stalled in recent months. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2