Representatives of the United States and Russia have secretly developed a new plan to end the conflict in Ukraine. According to information in the British newspaper "The Guardian", Kyiv will be forced to cede territories and significantly limit the size of its armed forces.
The project, drafted by the special envoy of US President Donald Trump - Steve Whitcoff, and Kremlin advisor Kirill Dmitriev, imposes draconian measures on Ukraine. These measures provide for unprecedented control by Russia over the army and the political sovereignty of the country. The publication notes that the plan is perceived as capitulation by Kyiv.
It is unclear whether the project is officially supported by the Trump administration.
According to information from "The Financial Times", the proposed conditions include the surrender by Ukraine of all territories that are still under Kyiv's control in the eastern part of the country. In addition, the Ukrainian army is to be halved. These conditions are defined as unacceptable by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Other requirements include restrictions on US military aid and the types of weapons used by the Ukrainian army.
The magazine "Newsweek" adds that according to the plan, Russia will de facto gain control over the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, known as Donbas. However, Ukraine will not be obliged to publicly recognize this. The United States and the international community will recognize Crimea and Donbas as Russian territory.
In two other front-line areas - Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, the conflict "will be frozen along the current lines of control, and Russia will return some land".
The proposal, consisting of 28 points and drawn up without the participation of Ukraine, reflects the maximalist demands that the Kremlin made during the war and which Kyiv has long rejected, defining them as capitulation, notes "The New York Times".
Some Ukrainian analysts, however, see the proposal as an attempt by Russia to put pressure on Kyiv for concessions. This is happening at a time when the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky has been weakened by a corruption scandal at the highest level. This scandal may discourage allies from continuing to provide aid to the country.
Against the backdrop of these events, Ukrainian forces are under increasing pressure at the front, while Russian troops are making gains against the exhausted Ukrainian army. "One thing is clear. The Ukrainian position is not strong at the moment, and this is seen not only in the country, but also by our partners, including the US, and, of course, by the aggressor," said Kostyantin Yeliseyev, former foreign policy advisor to the Ukrainian president, who is currently an opponent of Zelensky.