US peace plan asks almost nothing of Russia, leaving some American officials questioning why Kyiv would accept it
Washington — A US peace plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine has sparked fresh debate. The proposal, drafted by former President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, offers Russia few concessions, the only major one being a break from the pledge to annex the entire country. American officials say Ukraine would still reject the deal because it demands huge sacrifices for Kyiv.
The plan, born after talks with both Ukrainian and Russian leaders, calls for Ukraine to hand over the entire Donbas region—a territory Russia hasn’t even controlled since the 2014 split. It also requires Ukraine to renounce NATO membership, cut its armed forces from about 900,000 to 600,000 soldiers, and grant blanket amnesty for all wartime actions, wiping out any future legal claims over Russian war crimes.
Experts and US officials see the offer as a “no‑win” situation for Kyiv. “It would cost Kyiv so much that it’s simply unacceptable,” said Institute for the Study of War lead George Barros. “You need a strong Ukrainian military and real foreign support, not a deal that weakens it.”
A senior US source said the main sticking point for Russia is simply agreeing that they cannot take over all of Ukraine. “Putin’s goal has always been a full annexation,” the official said. “That’s why the proposal focuses on stopping him.”
The conflict has cost Moscow nearly 7,000 soldiers a day and hammered its economy. The US says the plan would halt Putin’s ambitions and end the war, but critics point out that Russia would lose territory and some strategic advantage.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian security chief Rustem Umerov reportedly gave “positive feedback” on the draft. However, officials stopped short of saying Kyiv signed off. The US said Umerov agreed to most of the plan, made some tweaks, and passed it to President Zelensky for final review. The same source added that a broad amnesty clause was proposed by Umerov.
Umerov later posted on X (formerly Twitter) denying that any “approval” had yet been granted. “There are no verified approvals,” he wrote. “We are still working within our core principles of sovereignty, safety, and a just peace.” The Ukrainian side has not responded to further US inquiries.
A US official called the Umerov comments “fishy,” noting that the amnesty for both sides—Russia and Ukraine—was inserted by Kiev, not the United States. The US had originally insisted on an audit of aid receipts and mechanisms to recover any misappropriated funds. Ukraine’s language instead offered amnesty to all parties in the conflict.
The proposal reflects a broader US effort to negotiate a lasting settlement in Ukraine. Whether it can convince Kyiv to accept the terms remains an open question.
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