KYIV/WASHINGTON: The United States has reportedly pressured Ukraine to accept a 28-point peace framework that includes concessions to Russia, including territorial withdrawals, limits on its military, and a permanent ban from joining NATO. Sources familiar with the plan said Washington threatened to reduce intelligence sharing and weapons supplies if Kyiv did not agree by next Thursday.
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A senior U.S. delegation met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, describing the meeting as a success and advocating an “aggressive timeline” for signing the agreement. Zelenskiy, speaking with leaders of Britain, Germany, and France, emphasized that Ukraine is reviewing the plan carefully to ensure a “real and dignified peace,” while avoiding outright rejection of the U.S. proposal.
The plan, reviewed by Reuters, would also see sanctions on Russia gradually lifted, Moscow reintegrated into the G8, and frozen Russian assets pooled in an investment fund, with Washington receiving a portion of the proceeds. Ukrainian demands for enforceable security guarantees remain largely undefined, with only a brief mention of “robust security guarantees” included.
Kyiv has expressed caution, with National Security Council secretary Rustem Umerov clarifying that he had not approved the plan and that Ukraine will not accept terms violating its sovereignty. The Kremlin, meanwhile, said it had not received any official U.S. proposal and urged Ukraine to make a “responsible decision.”
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The timing of the U.S. initiative comes as Russian forces gain ground in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian troops face setbacks, and domestic political instability grows, with two cabinet ministers recently dismissed over a corruption scandal.