Zelenskyy Ready for 'Honest Work' on US Peace Draft Amidst Controversial Terms
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv is ready to work "clearly and honestly" in response to the draft peace proposal presented by the United States delegation. This statement comes amidst media reports that a secret peace deal is being drafted by Washington and Moscow, with some sources citing a potential breakthrough in the near future. Through a post on Telegram, Zelenskyy confirmed his meeting with a high-level US delegation which resulted in a "very serious conversation," where the American side presented their vision to end the war.
The reported 28-point peace plan includes controversial proposals, such as Ukraine having to cede parts of the eastern Donbas region and significantly reducing its armed forces, from 900,000 to 600,000 personnel. Additionally, the draft suggests that Ukraine not join NATO, while European fighter jets would be stationed in neighboring Poland. In return, Ukraine would receive "reliable security guarantees," the details of which have not been disclosed, and Russia would be "reintegrated into the global economy" through the lifting of sanctions and an invitation to rejoin the G7 group (becoming the G8).
Reactions to this proposal have been highly varied. Guntram Wolff from Bruegel assesses the plan as dangerous because it would leave Ukraine highly vulnerable to future Russian attacks without the presence of NATO forces. Similarly, Michael O’Hanlon from the Brookings Institute considers the voluntary cession of territory as an illegitimateact, especially since Russia is the aggressor. However, the White House rejects the notion that the proposal is one-sided, claiming they have engaged both parties equally to achieve a "just and lasting" peace.
Despite being faced with difficult points, Zelenskyy remains cautious in his public response. He did not explicitly reject the plan but emphasized that Ukraine needs a peace that respects the sovereignty and dignity of its people. He is scheduled to speak with US President Donald Trump in the coming days. Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, criticized the absence of European involvement in drafting this plan, asserting that for any plan to succeed, there must be full support from both Ukraine and Europe.
Additional Analysis: The "Land for Peace" Dilemma and Geopolitical Shift
This situation places Ukraine in a very dilemmatic position. The concept of "land for peace" implied in this proposal is actually not new in the history of conflict resolution, but its application in Ukraine carries the risk of setting a dangerous precedent. If Ukraine is forced to legally cede the Donbas, it would seem to legitimize military aggression as a valid method to alter sovereign borders in the 21st century. This could send a signal to the world that the post-World War II international legal order is beginning to crumble, replaced by the law of the jungle where strong nations are free to annex the territories of their neighbors.
Furthermore, the proposal to return Russia to the G7/G8 and lift economic sanctions without regime change or full accountability for war damages indicates a shift in priorities in Washington under Trump's leadership. The focus appears to be shifting from punishing the aggressor to global economic stability and reducing the US financial burden in foreign conflicts. For Ukraine and its European allies, this is a warning alarm that unconditional support from the US may have ended, and they must prepare to face a new reality where European security is no longer fully guaranteed by the American umbrella.
Beyond military and territorial aspects, this proposal also touches on crucial economic aspects. Russia's reintegration into the global economy might be welcomed by disrupted world energy and commodity markets, but for Ukraine, this means losing one of its biggest forms of leverage: the economic isolation of Moscow. Without sanctions, Russia could quickly restore its economic power to rebuild its military, which would ultimately become a threat again to a Ukraine that has been stripped of part of its military strength according to the proposal. Therefore, the security guarantees offered must be very concrete—possibly involving "boots on the ground" from European nations—for Ukraine to be willing to consider this high-risk deal.