The White House has officially confirmed that a United States-backed peace proposal currently being negotiated with Russia and Ukraine represents a "good" solution for both warring nations. This announcement came on Thursday amid growing concerns that the plan heavily incorporates Moscow's key demands.
White House Confirms Ongoing Peace Negotiations
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been conducting "quiet" negotiations on the peace framework for approximately one month. "It's ongoing and it's in flux, but the president supports this plan. It's a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides," Leavitt stated during a briefing.
The White House spokesperson emphasized that Washington maintains "good conversations" with both Ukrainian and Russian officials to determine what commitments each country would make under the proposed arrangement. This marks the first official confirmation from the Trump administration regarding the draft peace plan that Ukrainian authorities had previously indicated was presented to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Controversial Details Emerge
According to information provided to AFP by sources familiar with the negotiations, the proposed peace plan contains 28 specific points that largely align with Moscow's maximalist conditions for ending the conflict. The most contentious aspects reportedly include:
- Ukraine surrendering territory currently occupied by Russian forces
- Significant reductions in Ukrainian armed forces capabilities
- Formal recognition of Russian-annexed regions including Crimea
Russian military forces currently control approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, with the Kremlin having formally annexed five regions: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson in 2022, and Crimea in 2014. Much of this occupied land has suffered extensive damage from years of intense fighting.
International Reactions and Next Steps
While Leavitt declined to provide specific details about the proposal, she strongly denied allegations that the terms would prove unfavorable to Ukraine. She confirmed that Rubio and Witkoff met with Ukrainian representatives within the past week to discuss the evolving plan.
The Press Secretary acknowledged President Trump's "increasing frustration" with both parties in the conflict but reaffirmed his commitment to ending the war. This aligns with the Republican leader's campaign promise to resolve the conflict within 24 hours of assuming office in January.
Leavitt pointed to the administration's previous diplomatic achievements, specifically referencing the "historic success" of establishing a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. "We believe that is possible with Russia and Ukraine and we're hoping and working very hard to achieve that," she asserted.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has expressed willingness to collaborate with the United States in developing a viable path to end the hostilities. President Zelensky's office confirmed that the Ukrainian leader anticipates discussing the proposal's points directly with President Trump in the coming days, though neither government has publicly disclosed the complete details of the current draft.
