Trump: Ukraine Peace Plan 'Not My Final Offer' — Pushes for Deal by Thanksgiving

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that his administration’s 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine and Russia is "not my final offer," emphasizing that "one way or the other, we have to get it ended." He told reporters that he hopes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will accept the plan by Thanksgiving, but warned that if Zelenskyy declines, "then he can continue to fight his little heart out."

What the proposal would do

Key elements of the draft include:

• Allowing Russia to retain more Ukrainian territory than it currently controls;
• Requiring Ukraine to limit the size and disposition of its armed forces;
• Committing that Ukraine would not join NATO.

U.S. officials say the plan comprises 28 points and was presented as having input from both sides, though critics dispute that characterization.

Domestic and international reactions

Ukrainian lawmakers and leaders have criticized the plan as conceding too much to Russia. In a video statement this week, President Zelenskyy framed the choice for Ukraine as stark: accept what he described as a loss of dignity and difficult concessions, or risk losing a key partner and face "a very difficult winter."

"Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner, either the difficult 28 points, or a very difficult winter," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Several U.S. lawmakers across party lines also expressed concerns. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote that while the plan contains some good ideas, several areas are "very problematic" and must be improved so any agreement ends the war "honorably and justly — and not create new conflict." Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said he is "highly skeptical" the plan will achieve peace and warned Ukraine should not be forced to cede territory to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Security guarantees and European concerns

A U.S. official said the proposal includes a security guarantee under which the United States and European allies would treat any future attack on Ukraine as an attack on the broader trans-Atlantic community, but offered few specifics about what that commitment would entail.

European leaders at the G20 warned the plan could leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack — a concern reflected in a joint statement by leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and Norway.

Next steps in diplomacy

U.S. envoys — Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff — were reported to be traveling to Geneva to meet a Ukrainian delegation to continue talks. They were to be joined by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Ambassador Julie Davis, the U.S. diplomat to Ukraine. A separate meeting with a Russian delegation in another location was under consideration.

President Zelenskyy confirmed advisers from Ukraine, the United States and the E3 format (the UK, France and Germany) would convene in Switzerland, saying that many European leaders remain willing to assist in efforts toward a sustainable peace.

Russian response

Russian officials, including President Putin, praised the proposal. Putin warned that if Ukraine refuses the draft, Russia could seek to end the conflict "through military means, through armed struggle."

Context: Ending the war quickly has been a central promise of Mr. Trump's 2024 campaign. This year he has met with President Zelenskyy multiple times and held a summit with President Putin.