US Draft Would Require Ukraine to Cede Territory and Slash Army as Deadly Strike Hits Ternopil

A reported US draft peace proposal would ask Ukraine to recognise Russian-held territories, surrender all long-range weapons and cut its armed forces to about 400,000 personnel, a person familiar with the document, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters. The plan echoes the maximum demands Moscow has advanced and raises questions about what, if anything, Russia would offer in return.

Contents of the draft and uncertainty over origins

According to the anonymous source, the draft calls for formal recognition of Crimea and other regions currently under Russian control, a major reduction in Ukraine's military size and limits on long-range capabilities. The source said it was unclear whether the proposal reflected official US policy, the views of individuals in former US President Donald Trump's circle, or a different initiative entirely.

"It was unclear what Russia was supposed to do in return," the source said.

High-level US delegation in Kyiv

At the same time, US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll led a Pentagon delegation to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian officials and discuss steps to bolster air defences and long-range strike capacity. Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrsky, described discussions as "productive" and emphasised the need to strengthen air protection, expand strike options against military targets and stabilise the front line to blunt the adversary's offensive.

Deadly strike on western city of Ternopil

The revelations came as cruise missiles struck the western city of Ternopil, far from the front line, killing 26 people, including three children, and wounding dozens more. Rescue teams searched through rubble, using cranes to reach destroyed apartment blocks as thick grey smoke filled nearby streets.

City authorities warned of elevated chlorine levels in the air after fires and urged Ternopil's roughly 200,000 residents to stay indoors and close windows. A state emergency service reported 26 dead and 92 wounded, including 18 children.

Wrapped in a pink blanket, 46-year-old Oksana told rescuers she had called her 20-year-old son Bohdan and urged him to leave their home; he replied, "Mum, don't worry, everything will be fine." She said it was "too late." Her sister said their ninth-floor apartment had been destroyed and Bohdan had not been found immediately after the strike.

"These were people who were simply at home, peacefully sleeping," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk said he was "appalled" by the civilian toll, warning that powerful long-range missiles used alongside waves of drones are causing heavy civilian harm. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said the attack showed "how Russia's 'peace plans' look in reality."

Broader context and outlook

Russia now occupies roughly one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, much of it heavily damaged by fighting. The Ternopil strike comes amid intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter and steady Russian advances on parts of the front. Diplomacy has so far produced limited results: recent rounds of talks have yielded mainly prisoner exchanges and the return of bodies, while calls for renewed negotiations continue.

Ukrainian leaders say they hope international pressure, including sanctions, can help bring Moscow back to the negotiating table, though officials on both sides have suggested they will continue fighting unless their core demands are met.