A clandestine draft plan to end the war in Ukraine, reportedly developed by officials from the United States and Russia, has emerged amidst a major Russian assault on the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil. The proposal, which would force Kyiv into significant concessions, is being viewed by many as a blueprint for surrender.
Details of the Controversial Peace Proposal
The draft plan, as reported by the Financial Times and Reuters, was developed through an informal backchannel between Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev. The key stipulations of the proposal are severe for Ukraine: it would require the country to cede occupied territories in its eastern regions and halve the size of its military. Furthermore, it would place strict limits on future US military assistance to Ukraine.
The timing of the report's emergence is particularly stark, coinciding with Russian drone and missile strikes on Ternopil that killed at least 25 people. It remains unclear if the plan has formal backing from the Trump administration, given its informal origins.
International Reaction and Pushback
The European Union has already signalled significant pushback against the proposal. EU foreign ministers are meeting to discuss the situation, with a prevailing sentiment that any viable peace plan must have Kyiv and Europe "on board". The plan, which effectively rewards Russian aggression, is likely to face fierce opposition from allies who support Ukraine's sovereignty.
Other Major Developments in US Politics
In a separate but notable development, President Donald Trump signed a bill compelling the Justice Department to release files from the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This move came after an unlikely alliance between Democrats and Trump's conservative base forced a U-turn on the issue. The legislation mandates the release of all investigation files, including those related to Epstein's death by suicide in prison, and specifically bars officials from withholding information due to concerns about "embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity".
Meanwhile, President Trump has stoked further controversy by calling a female Bloomberg correspondent, Catherine Lucey, "piggy" and admonishing her to be quiet when she questioned him about his initial resistance to releasing the Epstein documents. This incident, alongside his defence of the Saudi crown prince in the Jamal Khashoggi murder, has generated more significant outrage than usual, with analysts suggesting it may indicate the president is on the back foot amid other political pressures.
