Back-Channel Peace Plan by Witkoff Alarms Allies and Risks Major Concessions to Russia

Allies scramble to assess a private U.S. peace initiative

U.S. allies and Ukrainian officials raced on Wednesday to understand the terms of a privately advanced peace proposal for Ukraine led by Steve Witkoff, an informal envoy close to the White House. Diplomats and officials warned that the 28-point draft — still fluid and negotiable — could require Ukraine to accept military restraints and cede significant territory to Russia, raising alarm among European partners and Kyiv.

The initiative emerged after Witkoff met with Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev late last month in Miami, at a moment when plans for a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin were faltering. The plan’s existence surprised many in Washington, Kyiv and European capitals, who said they were not properly briefed and worried that a rushed deal could reward Russian aggression.

Officials described the proposal as lacking detail on several core questions, including how NATO would be referenced — if at all — and what concrete security guarantees Ukraine might retain. Kyiv has long sought NATO membership as a bulwark against future aggression; Moscow has consistently demanded that Ukraine be barred from the alliance. European partners fear any territorial concessions would set a dangerous precedent of rewarding force.

“We have not been briefed on this,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters. “There are ongoing efforts by all international partners to finally get President Putin to the negotiating table.”

Several people familiar with the discussions say the draft mirrors some long-standing Russian demands, including claims on larger portions of eastern Ukraine and restrictions on Ukraine’s future security arrangements with Western allies. Those elements were described as unacceptable to Ukrainian negotiators and previously rejected by U.S. interlocutors.

The White House declined to comment on the specifics of the proposal. Officials said the plan remains a work in progress and that provisions are negotiable, but the speed and secrecy of the outreach prompted concern across diplomatic circles.

U.S. military officials dispatched to Kyiv

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Army Europe commander Gen. Christopher Donahue were sent to Kyiv this week to brief Ukrainian leaders and discuss the draft. The trip was arranged rapidly after a White House meeting in which Driscoll was named to engage directly with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s team. Driscoll is expected to follow up with briefings to NATO allies to explain the U.S. view and the proposed next steps.

Senior White House officials have expressed optimism that a framework could be agreed by all parties soon, with one official suggesting it might happen by the end of the month. Other U.S. sources cautioned that any meaningful progress would require flexibility from both sides and careful consultation with partners.

Concerns about process and credibility

European and Ukrainian officials have for months raised concerns about Witkoff’s largely solo approach to negotiations. Critics say limited interagency coordination and sparse consultation with allies have hindered earlier efforts and risk leaving U.S. negotiators out of step with partners. One source described the outreach as having "zero interagency coordination," a claim the White House did not immediately address.

“The Russians have clearly identified Witkoff as someone who is willing to promote their interests,” an EU defense official said. “Europeans have not been consulted on this. But there’s a wing inside the White House who for some time have seen Europeans as 'spoilers' in the peace process, so in a way, it’s not surprising.”

Other U.S. officials rejected the notion that Moscow wants to deal only with an informal envoy, saying Russia should be prepared to engage directly with Washington in any durable settlement.

Kremlin reaction and unresolved questions

The Kremlin played down the novelty of the proposal, with a spokesperson saying there was nothing materially new compared with prior talks. It remains unclear how fully developed the plan is: several people who would normally be consulted on such an initiative at the White House and State Department say they were not involved.

Since taking office, the Trump administration and senior aides have pressed Russia to negotiate seriously, but previous high-level meetings and phone calls have produced limited results. After months of restraint on sanctions, the administration later imposed penalties on Russian energy companies following the collapse of a planned summit.

The U.S. delegation’s meetings in Kyiv also touched on other practical issues, including cooperation on drone technology and training — areas where U.S. military officials and Ukraine have ongoing exchanges.

Kyiv has not issued a formal public response to the draft. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said he is in "constant communication" with the U.S. team and that Ukraine remains committed to pursuing a just and lasting peace while safeguarding its sovereignty.

As talks proceed, U.S. and European officials continue to seek clarity on how the draft would affect NATO’s posture, Ukrainian territorial integrity and the wider security architecture in Europe.

Contributors: Diana Nerozzi and Nette Nöstlinger.