A controversial 28-point peace blueprint brokered by Donald Trump would see Ukraine cede occupied territories to Russia in exchange for a reconstruction fund using frozen Russian assets, according to documents analysed by Metro.
The $100 Billion Carrot
Buried within the proposed agreement, clause 14 stands out as particularly contentious. It proposes using $100 billion in frozen Russian assets for Ukrainian reconstruction, with the United States pocketing half the profits from this venture.
Meanwhile, Russia would regain approximately two-thirds of the $300 billion in sovereign assets currently frozen across Europe. Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Chatham House, described this arrangement as a clear 'payoff' for the Trump administration.
'Effectively, Russia is saying, "we have given up on these frozen funds already, why don't you help yourself to it",' Giles told Metro. 'The terms on reallocation present a carrot dangled in front of the Trump administration to encourage them towards enforcement of the agreement on Ukraine.'
Ukraine's Sovereignty Under Threat
The proposed terms would require Ukraine to make significant concessions that experts warn would fundamentally compromise its sovereignty and future security.
Under the draft agreement, the United States would formally recognise Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions, along with annexed Crimea, as 'de-facto Russian' territory. Ukrainian forces would withdraw from parts of the Donetsk region they still control, ceding additional territory to Russia.
Perhaps most significantly, Ukraine would be required to enshrine in its constitution that it will never join NATO, while simultaneously committing to reduce the size of its armed forces to a cap of 600,000 personnel.
Giles characterised the proposal as 'a standard list of capitulation terms' for Ukraine, dressed in new language designed to create the illusion that Russia is making concessions.
International Response and Consequences
The peace plan has already prompted high-level discussions among Western leaders. Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he held a joint call with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss the proposal.
Prime Minister Starmer emphasised that any peace must be 'just and lasting,' stating: 'The future of Ukraine must be determined by Ukraine and we must never lose sight of that principle.'
The agreement would also see Russia invited back into the G8 and all sanctions lifted, while granting Moscow immunity from prosecution for war crimes committed during the conflict.
Giles warned of dangerous global precedents: 'If the US, by enforcing this agreement, endorses the capture of territory by force through unprovoked aggression, then we are all in danger. This agreement is pretending that the war never happened.'
Zelensky has indicated he will discuss the plan directly with Trump in the coming days, while insisting that Ukraine requires a 'dignified peace' that preserves its freedom and independence.
