“Ukrainian President Zelensky expresses willingness to collaborate with the US on a draft peace plan aimed at ending the war with Russia. The plan reportedly includes Ukraine conceding parts of Donbas, reducing its army, and committing to avoid joining NATO. While Ukraine’s role in drafting the plan is unclear, the White House says it engaged both sides equally. Zelensky’s office confirmed Ukraine will work on the plan to achieve a just resolution.”

A draft peace plan, published in full by the Financial Times and Axios, outlines potential steps to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Under the plan, Ukraine’s military would be capped at 600,000 personnel, while European fighter jets would be stationed in Poland to provide support. Kyiv is promised “reliable security guarantees,” though specific details remain unclear.

The plan also suggests reintegrating Russia into the global economy by lifting sanctions and inviting Moscow to rejoin the G7, effectively restoring it as the G8. If fully implemented, some elements of the plan appear to favor Russia’s interests.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to discuss the proposals with US President Donald Trump. The plan also includes provisions for Ukraine to limit its weapons.

At a White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed claims that the plan demands major concessions from Ukraine, emphasizing that the US President “supports” it. According to Leavitt, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio worked on the proposal for about a month, engaging both sides to ensure a sustainable and lasting peace.

An unnamed senior US official told CBS News that the draft was developed following discussions with Rustem Umerov, a senior member of Zelensky’s administration. Umerov reportedly approved most of the plan after requesting some modifications before presenting it to the Ukrainian President.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on X that the US had presented points of a plan to end the war, describing them as “their vision,” while he outlined Ukraine’s key principles. He added that both teams would work together to ensure the plan is genuine.

The statement followed a meeting in Kyiv on Thursday with senior US military officials, including US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Gen Randy George, and Gen Chris Donahue, top US commander in Europe. Despite Ukraine’s cautious response to the draft, Zelensky expressed appreciation for the efforts of President Trump and his team to restore security in Europe, signaling a desire to maintain US support even as his administration’s approach to Russia appears soft.

In his nightly address, Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s need for a “worthy peace” and insisted that the “dignity of the Ukrainian people” be respected. When asked about Europe’s involvement, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she was unaware of any European participation and stressed that a successful plan would require buy-in from both Ukrainians and Europeans.

Moscow downplayed the draft, rumored to include 28 points. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there had been “contacts” with the US but no formal consultations, and warned that any deal must address the “root causes of the conflict,” which Ukraine interprets as unrealistic demands tantamount to surrender.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated that Ukraine’s future must be decided by Ukrainians themselves, a principle essential for achieving a just and lasting peace.

Since beginning his second term, Trump has pursued several initiatives to end the war, including a summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, visits by his envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow, and discussions with Zelensky and other Western leaders. Yet, as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches, disagreements persist over how to resolve the conflict.

Ukraine has effectively targeted Russian military and energy infrastructure with long-range drones, but Russian attacks continue. On Thursday, a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia killed at least five people. Hours later, Russia claimed to have intercepted and destroyed 33 Ukrainian drones over several regions. Earlier in the week, a missile and drone attack in Ternopil killed at least 26 people, with another 17 reported missing, prompting Zelensky to offer condolences.