President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled a cautious openness to working with Washington on what US officials describe as “their vision” for ending the war, a gesture that reflects mounting pressure on Kyiv as battlefield losses and political turmoil strain Ukraine’s position.
The plan—leaked in fragments over recent weeks—sketches out a framework that would require Ukraine to abandon its bid for Nato membership, limit its armed forces to 600,000 personnel, and surrender remaining pockets of the Donetsk region still under its control. None of those conditions are new; all have been flatly rejected by Kyiv in the past. But the tone from Zelensky’s office this week was notably restrained.
In his nightly address, Zelensky acknowledged that US military officials had presented “points of a plan” that outline Washington’s path to ending the conflict. He reaffirmed that Ukraine seeks a “real peace,” one durable enough to prevent another invasion. The statement avoided criticism, a sign of Kyiv’s delicate balancing act as its reliance on US support remains deep—even as President Donald Trump shifts responsibility for future aid to European allies and prioritizes a negotiated settlement.
The draft proposal emerged after talks between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev. It hints at significant concessions to Moscow: a promise from Nato to halt further expansion, the reintegration of Russia into the global economy, and even its return to the G7. Ukraine would receive unspecified “security guarantees,” while European fighter jets would be based in Poland as part of a monitoring arrangement.
European governments, however, were not involved in crafting the proposal. Germany’s foreign minister dismissed it as a “list of topics and options,” rather than a workable plan. EU officials have warned that any agreement must include both Ukrainians and Europeans or risk collapsing on arrival.
Washington insists Kyiv has been included in the process. A senior US official told Africa Today News that Rustem Umerov, one of Zelensky’s closest aides, had already accepted much of the draft after securing modifications. Ukrainian lawmakers say they were looped in only later.
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Zelensky plans to discuss the proposals directly with Trump in the coming days. Publicly, he has chosen careful diplomacy—expressing appreciation for US efforts while reiterating that any resolution must preserve Ukraine’s dignity and sovereignty.
Meanwhile, fighting continues. Russian strikes in Zaporizhzhia killed at least five people late Thursday, and deadly attacks earlier in the week underscored the persistent gap between diplomatic drafts and the brutal reality on the ground.