US Delivers 28-Point Peace Proposal to Ukraine Amid European Concerns

On November 20, 2025, Ukraine officially confirmed receipt of a 28-point draft peace agreement from the United States. This document is intended to bring the military confrontation with the Russian Federation to a close. Reports from European sources suggest the proposal contains several significant concessions expected from Kyiv, leading to considerable discussion across the continent.

According to various publications, the core tenets of this proposed plan mandate that Ukraine fully relinquish administrative control over the Donbas region, which encompasses the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Crucially, Kyiv would retain the legal title to these territories. The Telegraph reported a unique element: in exchange, Russia might provide an undisclosed “lease payment” for de facto control over these resource-rich areas, a mechanism likened by some observers to a standard business arrangement.

Further stipulations within the document reportedly include a cap on the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, limiting personnel to 400,000 soldiers. Additionally, the plan calls for Ukraine to forgo the use of long-range weaponry. These conditions represent substantial shifts in the current military and political landscape.

The genesis of this initiative, as revealed by Axios, stems from discussions held in Miami in late October 2025. These talks involved Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Kirill Dmitriev, an economic representative for Vladimir Putin. President Trump has reportedly given his blessing to the framework. A White House official commented that the plan incorporates “elements that Ukraine desires and needs for a lasting peace.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the development of a “list of ideas” aimed at concluding the conflict, emphasizing that durable peace necessitates difficult, yet essential, compromises from both sides.

European nations have reacted to the alleged terms with skepticism and outright criticism. Jean-Noël Barrot, the head of France’s foreign policy department, firmly stated that “peace cannot equate to capitulation.” He stressed that European allies were entirely excluded from the drafting process. Similarly, German Foreign Minister Johann Wrede noted that Berlin had not been “briefed” on the 28-point proposal, which several European politicians view as tantamount to an imposed surrender.

Amidst this diplomatic turbulence, a high-level American military delegation arrived in Kyiv on November 27, 2025. The group was led by US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff Randy George, accompanied by US European Command Commander Chris Donahue. The focus of their discussions centered on military strategy and technological cooperation, specifically concerning unmanned aerial vehicles. This visit is understood as an effort by the White House to re-engage Ukraine in the negotiation track, particularly as President Zelensky’s political standing has been affected by an ongoing domestic corruption scandal.

While sources within Kyiv have characterized the draft as “highly convenient for Putin,” President Zelensky has indicated a willingness to explore the plan. The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, acknowledged the Trump administration’s involvement in shaping the proposals but refuted claims that Washington and the Kremlin solely authored the document. Leaks suggest the agreement might also encompass freezing the current front lines in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, alongside mandates for recognizing the Russian language as official and granting special status to the Russian Orthodox Church within Ukraine.