(Washington/Kyiv) The full details of the 28-point peace plan proposed by the United States for Russia and Ukraine were revealed on Thursday (November 20). This plan, clearly favoring Russian interests, includes key points such as Ukraine ceding the Donbas region in the east, reducing its military, relinquishing its NATO membership, and holding elections within 100 days, in exchange for "strong" security guarantees from the United States and Europe. Russia, in turn, must conclude a non-aggression pact with Ukraine and Europe, and could also rejoin the G8, with economic sanctions gradually being lifted.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy held an emergency phone call with the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany on Friday (November 21). European leaders insisted that the Ukrainian army must be capable of defending its sovereignty, and that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine should begin with the current line of contact between the two militaries.
White House Press Secretary Levitt confirmed on Thursday that the 28-point plan had the support of President Trump. She denied that Washington had only unilaterally discussed the plan with Moscow, claiming that Presidential Envoy Witkov and Secretary of State Rubio had been "quietly" coordinating with both sides for the past month. U.S. officials also claimed that the plan had been approved and modified by Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Umerov, and reported to Zelensky.
However, Umerov denied the U.S. claims in a Telegram post on Friday, insisting that he had never discussed the plan with U.S. officials, nor had he approved any terms beyond his authority.
News: U.S. Pressures Ukraine to Sign Framework Agreement Next Week
According to a draft peace plan obtained by major Western media outlets on Thursday, Crimea, which Russia has already occupied, and the Luhansk and Donetsk regions collectively known as Donbas, will be "recognized as Russian territory by countries including the United States." The Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, where fierce fighting is taking place between Russia and Ukraine, will have their "line of contact between the two armies frozen."
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According to the draft agreement, Ukraine must relinquish its NATO membership, NATO will be prohibited from stationing troops on Ukrainian territory (except for deploying aircraft in Poland), and Ukraine must reduce its military by nearly half to 600,000 personnel.
However, according to US officials, in exchange, Ukraine will receive "strong security guarantees" from the US and Europe for an initial period of 10 years. The US and Europe will, in accordance with NATO principles, consider any "significant, deliberate, and sustained armed attack" against Ukraine as an attack on the entire "transatlantic community," and will respond with force, among other things.
Once the agreement is reached, both Russia and Ukraine must withdraw to the agreed-upon location and immediately cease fire. The agreement will be overseen by a peace council led by Trump; Ukraine will hold elections 100 days later.
Russia will reach a comprehensive non-aggression pact with Ukraine and Europe, resolving all misunderstandings that have existed for 30 years; Russia will not aggression against its neighbors, and NATO will not expand further.
According to the agreement, Russia will also be reinstated as a member of the G7 and will receive the lifting of various sanctions imposed by the US and Europe.
On post-war reconstruction, the US and Ukraine will cooperate in developing and operating Ukraine's natural gas infrastructure. The US and Russia will also sign an agreement for long-term cooperation in energy, rare earth metal mining, and other fields.
Furthermore, of the assets frozen by the US and Europe, Russia will allocate $100 billion (approximately S$130 billion) to invest in US-led reconstruction and investment projects in Ukraine, with the US receiving 50% of the profits.
US officials stated that the text of the agreement is still "under processing" and will be revised based on feedback from all parties. However, sources indicated on Friday that US Army Secretary Driscoll and other officials, during a meeting with Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday, demanded that Ukraine sign a framework agreement with the US by next Thursday (27th). There are also reports that the US threatened to cut off intelligence sharing and weapons supplies.
British, French, and German leaders: Ukrainian military must continue to defend sovereignty. The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany held an emergency phone call with Zelensky on Friday to discuss the latest proposal from Washington.
The German government subsequently issued a statement saying that the three leaders agreed that the Ukrainian army must remain capable of defending national sovereignty, and that any peace negotiations must begin with the current line of contact between Russian and Ukrainian forces. This means that the US proposal regarding territorial cession and the size of the Ukrainian army is unacceptable to European allies.
French President Macron, British Prime Minister Starmer, and German Chancellor Merz also assured Zelensky that they would continue to fully support Ukraine in its pursuit of a lasting and equitable peace.
Zelensky posted on social media X that he and his European allies are working closely together on the US proposal to ensure that the plan brings about a genuine and dignified peace.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on the same day that she would discuss the US proposal with Zelensky at the G20 summit along with other European leaders.
She emphasized that a key principle that European leaders have consistently upheld is that "Ukraine's participation cannot be excluded from any matter concerning Ukraine."
