Russia pushed forward on several parts of the front this week while a proposed United States peace plan for Ukraine triggered debate in Kyiv, Moscow and Western capitals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Washington had presented him with a draft outlining possible terms to end the conflict. He said Ukraine was prepared for what he called honest work with the US on the document.
The plan would involve Ukraine giving up remaining pockets of territory it controls in the Donbas region, accepting a smaller military and agreeing not to pursue membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. According to the draft published by the Financial Times and Axios, Ukraine would retain security guarantees from Western allies. It also states that European fighter jets would be stationed in Poland for Ukraine’s defence.
The White House said the proposal had been shaped through contact with both sides. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Washington had engaged equally with Moscow and Kyiv. She rejected suggestions that the plan forced Ukraine into major concessions, saying President Donald Trump believed it could work for both countries.
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Zelensky’s office issued a separate statement that described the document as a set of points presented by the American side. The president said his team would review the provisions to ensure they aligned with Ukraine’s vision of a just settlement. He added that he expected to speak with Trump soon about the proposals.
A senior US official told CBS News that the draft had been adjusted following discussions with Rustem Umerov, a senior figure in the Ukrainian leadership. The official said Umerov agreed to most of the items after suggesting changes and had briefed Zelensky.
Moscow downplayed the significance of the proposal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that there had been contact with Washington but insisted there was no structured negotiation. He said any agreement would need to address what Russia views as the root causes of the conflict, a phrase often interpreted in Kyiv as a call for far reaching Ukrainian concessions.
European officials said they were not brought into the drafting process. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters she was unaware of any direct involvement by European capitals. She emphasised that any workable agreement required support from Ukraine and Europe.
The plan also includes a path for Russia to be reintegrated into the global economy, with the potential lifting of sanctions and an invitation to return to the group of major economies known as the G8. These provisions drew attention because they appear to support some of Moscow’s long standing objectives.
Meanwhile Russian strikes continued across Ukraine. Local officials reported that an attack on Zaporizhzhia late on Thursday killed at least five people. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it had intercepted more than thirty Ukrainian drones over several regions in the same period. Earlier in the week, a missile and drone attack on Ternopil killed at least twenty six people and left others missing, according to Ukrainian authorities. Zelensky offered condolences during his nightly address and said Ukraine needed what he called a worthy peace that respected the dignity of its people.
The war enters its fourth year in February. Both countries remain far apart on core issues and there is no confirmed timetable for further talks. The US peace plan is expected to undergo further discussion, though its future remains uncertain.
