Draft U.S.-Backed Peace Plan Granting Amnesty Deepens Despair in Bucha

Mass graves and bullet-scarred churches in Bucha, a Kyiv suburb, remain stark reminders of atrocities uncovered after Russian forces withdrew in 2022. For survivors here, the latest shock is a reported U.S.-backed peace proposal that would offer blanket post-war amnesty to those accused of committing war crimes — a prospect many residents call a betrayal rather than reconciliation.

Scars of occupation

The Church of Andrew the Apostle stands beside a mass grave where civilians — some shot in the street, others showing signs of torture — are buried. Father Andriy Halavin, who leads the parish and holds services in the still-damaged church, warned that an amnesty would send a dangerous message if the fighting continues.

“It’s a green light,” Father Andriy said after Sunday service. “It means you can keep bombing, keep executing soldiers, all with confidence that nothing will happen.”

The killings in Bucha were revealed when Russian troops withdrew following a failed attempt to capture Kyiv during the 2022 invasion. Father Andriy said many alleged perpetrators have been identified and argued that justice is not about revenge but about ensuring accountability endures — especially if Ukrainians must accept painful concessions for the sake of peace.

The reported deal

The contentious draft — described in media reports as a 28-point plan emerging after secret talks involving Russian envoys and representatives linked to U.S. President Donald Trump — would reportedly require Kyiv to cede territory beyond areas already controlled by Moscow, reduce its armed forces and abandon pursuit of NATO membership. In return, Ukraine would receive international security guarantees and reconstruction assistance. Kyiv and Western leaders have stressed any agreement must preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and involve Ukrainian negotiators directly.

Voices from Bucha

At Bucha’s military cemetery, 66-year-old Vira Katanenko visited the grave of her son Andrii, who was killed fighting in the Donetsk region last year. She called the idea of blanket amnesty unthinkable.

“I can’t accept that,” Katanenko said. “They want forgiveness for all war crimes, including Bucha? That’s horrifying. Let them come here — let Trump himself come here. Let him and his family see our pain, and maybe then they’ll change their minds.”

A short drive from Bucha mourners gathered in the rain for the funeral of Ruslan Zhyhunov, a 41-year-old machine gunner killed in eastern Ukraine. The uncertainty surrounding the reported plan weighed heavily on relatives and neighbors as they watched the burial — a reminder of how fragile any promised future now feels.

“How can you exchange the territory of your ancestors for something? For what?” asked Andrii Honcharuk, a 71-year-old retired territorial defense volunteer who attended the service in uniform. “The war will not end soon. We will still be dying for a long time.”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the proposal one of the war’s most difficult moments and said he will work with partners while seeking changes to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and security. European leaders and other allies insist that any negotiations must include Ukraine and safeguard its territorial integrity.

Reporting: Oleksii Yeroshenko in Bucha and Hostomel contributed to this report.