Trump Proposes New Peace Plan for Ukraine: What the Initiative Entails.

According to ТСН: Four years of full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine have witnessed unsuccessful attempts at peacemaking and negotiations. Recent successes in resolving the crisis in Gaza have inspired US President Donald Trump to make a new attempt to reactivate the peace process.

In his usual style, he decided to implement the agreement, applying personal influence and setting a strict deadline, presenting a one-page outline that he believed would lead to peace, as reported by The Telegraph.

The proposed initiative included the establishment of a peace group led by Trump, a prisoner exchange, and international funding for reconstruction. However, unlike the situation in Gaza, it was noted that the possible initiative met resistance from a leader unwilling to compromise. “There are no signs that Russia wants to reach an agreement. And that is the essence: peace at any cost, which the US seems to be leaning towards now, is not peace,” said former US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink in a comment to NPR.

Major Issues with the New Peace Plan

Details of the new initiative were published at the beginning of last week. The US, through special envoy Steve Witkoff, developed a 28-point plan, which stipulated that Ukraine would have to cede all territories in Donbas to Russia, limit its army to 600,000 troops, and abandon its intention to join NATO (which, allegedly, would no longer accept new members).

In return, Russia would have to refrain from new strikes on Ukraine under the threat of renewed sanctions. Trump actively supported this proposal, hoping for a loud agreement and perhaps a Nobel Peace Prize. He set a deadline — by Thanksgiving (November 27), giving Kyiv time until Thursday to accept the terms.

The plan shocked Ukrainians and European countries, as it effectively encouraged Russian aggression. Following this, diplomatic hustle ensued: American and Ukrainian representatives met in Geneva to review the plan.

It is also known that a new round of negotiations between American, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives started on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump is being discussed. The US president stated that he would meet with the Ukrainian leader only when the agreement reaches the final stage.

Part of Putin's 'Masterful' Operation

Observers remind that similar situations have occurred before: in April, when Trump’s 'final proposal' ended with massive strikes from Russia, and in August, when Trump's meeting with Putin also yielded no results.

Senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre Tatyana Stanovaya explained the reasons for this repeated attempt. “Firstly, Witkoff shifted his focus from Gaza to Ukraine — he now has more time. Secondly, it relates to the situation in Ukraine,” she noted.

Pressure on Zelensky is increasing against the backdrop of a corruption scandal and difficulties at the front. However, Putin continues to demonstrate his unchanging demands — the annexation of territories, control over Ukraine, and a ban on NATO expansion. “Putin's position is simple: we are ready to end the war tomorrow if the Ukrainians accept all our demands. Compromises are impossible,” stressed Stanovaya. This makes comparisons with the situation in Gaza quite limited.

HAMAS was weakened, Israel achieved its military success, while Palestinians sought to stop the bombings. But the situation in Ukraine is different: Zelensky maintains public support despite accusations against his circle of attempting to steal $100 million from the energy sector. Knowing the cost of a protracted conflict, Putin is ready to prolong time.

Deputy Director of the 'Russia-Eurasia' program at Chatham House Oresta Lucevich noted that the 28-point plan is part of Putin's 'masterful' operation, the goal of which is to buy time for the army. “Putin is using Trump to buy time,” she remarked. His goals are to disrupt the implementation of oil sanctions that take effect on November 21, 2025, and delay the adoption of secondary sanctions in the US Congress.

Terrible Consequences

Moscow quickly rejected the counterproposals from European countries, and on November 25, it launched a new strike on Ukraine, firing 22 missiles and over 460 drones. As a result, seven civilians were killed in Kyiv. This was the fourth largest drone attack during the entire war.

This indicates that the situation remains tense and complex. Ukraine continues to fight for its sovereignty, while the international community seeks a way out of the conflict. However, the lack of willingness to compromise on Russia's part complicates the path to peace.