U.S. Officials Bring Secret 28-Point Peace Proposal to Kyiv as Tensions Over Territory and Security Persist

Senior U.S. military officials traveled to Kyiv this week to present a confidential 28-point peace proposal that U.S. sources say was drafted in behind-the-scenes consultations with Russian counterparts. The initiative aims to address both the battlefield realities and broader European security arrangements, but key details and political buy-in remain unclear.

Before meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky, the U.S. delegation — including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Gen. Chris Donahue, commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe — held talks with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. Svyrydenko said the visit allowed the Americans "to assess the situation on the ground and see the consequences of Russian aggression."

According to multiple accounts, U.S. and Russian officials have been consulting in secret for several weeks to draft the 28-point package. The effort has reportedly been led by Steve Witkoff, identified by U.S. sources as a special envoy, working in consultation with Russian financier Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev said he spent several days meeting with U.S. interlocutors and described the dialogue as constructive.

Those involved say the proposal covers a wide range of issues beyond immediate cease-fire mechanics: security guarantees, the architecture of European security, and the future of relations among the United States, Ukraine and Russia. Reported elements include provisions for force reductions and security arrangements intended to reduce the risk of renewed large-scale fighting.

One contested component reportedly would require Ukraine to downsize parts of its military — a demand Moscow has long made and one Kyiv has repeatedly rejected, arguing that reduced forces would increase Ukraine's dependence on external guarantees and weaken its ability to deter future aggression. President Zelensky has consistently ruled out ceding Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian officials say they have been briefed at least in part: Zelensky's national security adviser, Rustem Umerov, met with Witkoff in Miami this week. But the drafting process appears to have proceeded without full consultation with Kyiv or many European capitals, prompting calls for broader inclusion.

European Reaction and Open Questions

European leaders and diplomats emphasize that any credible plan must include Ukraine and European partners at the negotiating table. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said a viable proposal requires Ukrainian and European approval and reiterated that lasting peace must be just and durable. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that Kyiv will not accept any form of capitulation.

Key questions remain: which parties would be expected to show "flexibility," how territorial claims would be addressed given that Russia does not control all contested areas, and whether any agreement could secure enforcement and long-term stability in Europe.

For now, U.S. officials say the goal is to explore whether a negotiated settlement could halt the fighting and bring a lasting reduction in violence. But given the political sensitivities, entrenched positions and uncertain regional buy-in, turning a draft proposal into an accepted framework will be a difficult diplomatic task.