Ukraine is entering a new round of sensitive diplomacy after receiving a draft peace outline from the United States, prompting Volodymyr Zelensky to plan fresh talks with Donald Trump.
The document, passed to Kyiv this week, has stirred careful debate inside the Ukrainian government over what the proposed path to ending the war might require.
The plan was put together by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, with no Ukrainian representatives present, a point that has raised discomfort in Kyiv.
Still, in a statement released by the president’s office, Ukraine said Washington believed the proposal could “help reinvigorate diplomacy” and confirmed that the country had “agreed to work on the plan's provisions in a way that would bring about a just end to the war.”
The statement added that Kyiv backs “all substantive proposals capable of bringing genuine peace closer,” though officials declined to reveal the details of the document.
Reports shared by Axios, the Financial Times and Reuters suggest the draft includes steps that would require Ukraine to surrender some of the remaining areas of Donbas still under its control, reduce the size of its armed forces, and give up a portion of its weapons.
These suggestions, if true, would lean heavily toward Russia’s objectives, explaining Ukraine’s guarded tone. At the White House, however, press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected descriptions of the plan as one-sided, saying Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been “engaging both sides equally to understand what these countries would commit to.”
“It’s a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine,” she said. “We believe that it should be acceptable to both sides. And we're working very hard to get it done.”
Moscow responded with little enthusiasm. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed there had been “contacts” with Washington but dismissed the idea that any actual “consultations” were happening. The proposal is rumoured to have 28 separate points.
Zelensky’s remarks followed his meeting with senior US military officials in Kyiv, including US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, army chief of staff Gen Randy George and top commander in Europe Gen Chris Donahue.
Though he did not endorse the draft, Zelensky said he “appreciated the efforts of President Trump and his team to return security to Europe,” signaling a desire to keep communication open with Washington even while raising concerns.
During his nightly address, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine seeks a “worthy peace” and that the “dignity of the Ukrainian people” must be at the centre of any agreement.
His position lines up with earlier statements by European leaders, who also warned against preparing peace plans without involving Kyiv or the EU. “For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Peskov, meanwhile, repeated Russia’s long-held message that any deal must address the “root causes of the conflict,” which Ukraine sees as a push for terms amounting to surrender.
Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko echoed this frustration, telling the BBC that Ukraine had “not been consulted,” adding: “It looks like someone wants to decide things for us. And that's very painful for most of us Ukrainians.”
Trump, now in his second term, has launched several efforts aimed at ending the war, including talks with Putin in Alaska, regular visits to Moscow by Witkoff, and separate discussions with Zelensky and Western leaders.
Despite these moves, the war is nearing its fourth year with no agreement in sight. Russian strikes on Ukrainian towns continue, while Ukraine targets Russian military and energy sites with long-range drones.
Earlier in the week, at least 26 people died after Russian missiles and drones hit residential blocks in Ternopil. Zelensky said 17 people remained missing as he sent condolences to the affected families.
