US-Russia secret plan to end Ukraine war: Another Trump-Putin summit soon? – Firstpost

American and Russian officials have secretly drafted a plan to end the war in Ukraine, which includes measures that Kiev may not like. While Russia is downplaying the plans, Ukrainian officials are expressing concern over the matter.

Several news outlets suggested that the plan under consideration would require Ukraine to surrender territory and severely limit the size of its military. Reports of the secret plan came on the same day that Russian drone and missile attacks killed at least 25 people in the city of Ternopil.

According to the report of Reuters and The Financial TimesThe draft plan was prepared by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev. Reports suggested the plan would force Ukraine to take drastic measures, giving Russia unprecedented control over the country’s military and political sovereignty.

According to the report, the two men created “an important but informal backchannel between Moscow and Washington.” However, given Trump’s recent threats to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, it is unclear whether the Trump administration is formally supporting the plan.

How Russia and Ukraine are reacting to the plans

After reports of Witkoff and Dmitriev’s 28-point plan made headlines, the Kremlin denied reports that Russia is holding secret talks with the Trump administration to end the war in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied this Axios The report claims that US officials have drawn up a plan that includes “security guarantees, security in Europe, and future US relations with Russia and Ukraine”.

Peskov said that although there have been no talks with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, he is welcome to visit Moscow. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials told Reuters that Kiev had received “signals” about a set of US proposals to end the war.

The official clarified that Ukraine is not included in this proposal. Interestingly, Witkoff is expected to meet Zelensky in Türkiye on Wednesday.

peace at what price

The proposal would reportedly require Ukraine to give up territory it controls in the east of the country and halve the size of its army, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described as non-starter terms in the past. Some other conditions include limiting US military aid and the categories of weapons used by the Ukrainian military.

Who was the first to inform about the existence of the 28-point plan? Axios And it appears to be inspired by a similar proposal developed by the Trump administration to end the war in Gaza. However, there have been no indications from the White House that any such plans are underway. But Washington has repeatedly suggested it is close to a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

American lawmakers got furious

Reports of the existence of a 28-point plan to end the Ukraine war have surprised the US Congress and left at least one Republican warning against the largely pro-Moscow proposal. Ukraine’s top supporters in Congress appeared unaware of the existence of such channels.

“I don’t know what this 28-point plan is. I’m glad we’re coming up with a plan,” Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a top Trump aide and staunch supporter of Kiev, said during an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Wednesday morning. However, he said the plan should be motivated by strong US military commitments to Ukraine.

Other MPs claimed that they came to know about the plans only through media reports. “I’ve just heard about it but haven’t seen any details,” Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told reporters on Wednesday. “I haven’t been briefed on the details of it,” said Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation. Therefore, the reaction of US lawmakers to the controversial plan is surprising.