Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is prepared to begin “honest work” with the United States after receiving a draft peace plan aimed at ending the war with Russia. The proposal, reported by several U.S. outlets, suggests that Ukraine may have to give up parts of the Donbas region it still controls, reduce the size of its military, and commit to never joining NATO.
It remains unclear how involved Ukraine was in shaping the plan, though U.S. officials insist they consulted “equally with both sides.” Zelensky’s office confirmed that Ukraine is willing to study the proposal and work on its details, emphasizing that any agreement must lead to a “just end to the war.”
Some elements of the draft appear to support Russia’s long-standing demands. Zelensky said he expects to discuss the plan directly with U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days. The proposal reportedly also requires Ukraine to give up many of its weapons.
The White House pushed back on claims that the draft forces Ukraine into sweeping concessions, insisting that the plan is balanced and has the president’s full support. According to U.S. officials, the document was developed over the past month by senior diplomats after consultations with one of Zelensky’s top advisers, Rustem Umerov.
Zelensky acknowledged the U.S. proposal publicly, saying he shared Ukraine’s “key principles” with Washington and agreed that both sides would continue working together to ensure the process is credible.
The announcement came after a meeting in Kyiv between Zelensky and high-ranking American military leaders. Despite Ukraine’s cautious tone, Zelensky expressed appreciation for the U.S. administration’s efforts to restore security to Europe.
In his nightly address, he restated that Ukraine seeks a “worthy peace” that respects the country’s dignity and sovereignty. European leaders, however, seemed unaware of the plan’s development. The EU’s foreign policy chief said she had no knowledge of Europe being involved in drafting it, stressing that any successful peace initiative must include both Ukraine and its European partners.
Russia dismissed the reported plan, saying there were no real negotiations with the U.S. and warning that any lasting agreement must address what Moscow calls the “root causes” of the conflict—terms Ukraine has repeatedly rejected.
The UK also emphasized that Ukraine must retain control over its own future, warning that no peace can be imposed against its will.
President Trump has recently stepped up efforts to broker an end to the war, including holding a summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and dispatching envoys to Kyiv and Moscow. But as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches, the two sides remain deeply divided.
While Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russian military and energy targets, Russia continues deadly bombardments across Ukraine. Recent attacks in Zaporizhzhia and Ternopil killed dozens of civilians, adding new urgency to the search for a viable peace solution.