Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has received a U.S. draft plan intended to restart diplomacy and pursue a dignified end to the war. Reports link the draft to a 28-point proposal that may ask Ukraine to cede territory, reduce forces, and relinquish some weapons — terms Kyiv has signaled it would resist without strong security guarantees. Envoy Steve Witkoff says he consulted both sides, while European leaders insist any deal must have Ukrainian and European buy-in. The diplomatic push unfolds as U.S. sanctions bite into Russian energy revenues and missile strikes continue inside Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Receives U.S. Draft Peace Plan — 28-Point Proposal Fuels Diplomatic Push
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has received a U.S. draft plan intended to restart diplomacy and pursue a dignified end to the war. Reports link the draft to a 28-point proposal that may ask Ukraine to cede territory, reduce forces, and relinquish some weapons — terms Kyiv has signaled it would resist without strong security guarantees. Envoy Steve Witkoff says he consulted both sides, while European leaders insist any deal must have Ukrainian and European buy-in. The diplomatic push unfolds as U.S. sanctions bite into Russian energy revenues and missile strikes continue inside Ukraine.
03:54 PM, 11/21/2025Conflict
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has formally received a draft plan from the United States intended to revive diplomacy and bring the nearly four-year war to a dignified end, his office said Thursday. Kyiv and Washington agreed to work through the plan's points with the stated aim of halting hostilities and exploring a path to peace.
The document may be connected to a 28-point proposal developed by private envoy Steve Witkoff in consultation with Russian adviser Kirill Dmitriev. It is not yet clear whether the exact 28-point draft is the same text Kyiv received. Reports of the proposal indicate it would ask Ukraine to cede territory, relinquish some weapons, and reduce the size of its armed forces — measures that Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders have signaled they would resist. As Zelenskyy put it, "there can be no reward for waging war."
What the draft reportedly contains
Details circulating about the plan describe a multi-point framework that aims to create conditions for negotiations by freezing certain front lines and proposing reciprocal concessions. Proponents say the proposals are meant to produce a pragmatic political process; critics argue that any plan requiring Ukraine to give up territory or key defensive capabilities would be unacceptable without strong, verifiable security guarantees from Western partners.
Consultations and reactions
Envoy Steve Witkoff has said he sought input from both Russian and Ukrainian contacts while developing the proposal. Ukrainian official Rustem Umerov received a verbal briefing in Miami, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Witkoff and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio met with some Ukrainian representatives. Former President Donald Trump has been reported to express support for the 28-point approach, though Kyiv has not confirmed whether the draft it received is that specific document.
European Union figures have stressed any peace plan must have buy-in from Ukraine and its European partners. EU leader Kaja Kallas said she was not aware of broad European involvement in the talks and reiterated that workable diplomacy requires Ukrainians and Europeans at the table.
Wider context
The diplomatic activity comes alongside stepped-up U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil and gas, which a U.S. Treasury analysis says have reduced energy revenues for Russia. Those measures are intended to pressure Moscow’s ability to finance military operations, with further gas sanctions scheduled to take effect shortly.
Despite diplomatic initiatives, Russian missile strikes continue across Ukraine. Rescuers were searching for victims after a strike on an apartment building in the western city of Ternopil that Ukrainian authorities said killed at least 26 people, including children. The attack occurred as a U.S. delegation led by the Army secretary visited Kyiv, one day after Washington approved a $100 million package to upgrade Ukraine’s Patriot missile-interceptor systems.
"There can be no reward for waging war," — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
At this stage, key questions remain: whether the draft will be revised to address Kyiv’s security demands, how widely consultations will be expanded to include European partners, and whether both sides will accept the difficult concessions a lasting settlement would require. Negotiations, if they proceed, are likely to be complex and protracted.