Germany US peace plan includes delicate concessions from Ukraine
No NATO membership for Ukraine, a smaller army and permanent territorial cessions - the US government's new plan for an end to the Russian war of aggression contains numerous proposals that are likely to be difficult for Kiev to accept. Several media outlets published the draft of the 28-point agreement, which is intended to secure a permanent ceasefire after more than three and a half years of war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky explicitly did not endorse the US proposal, but at least showed himself willing to talk.
21.11.2025, 06:19
21.11.2025, 07:59
SDA
A delegation led by Daniel Driscoll, an undersecretary in the US Department of Defense, presented the latest ideas of President Donald Trump's administration during talks in Kiev. Afterwards, Selensky explained in a video message: "The American side presented points of a plan to end the war - their point of view. I have presented our principles."
Now the individual points need to be worked on, Selensky said. "We are ready for clear and honest work - Ukraine, the USA, our partners in Europe and worldwide." According to his office, Selenskyj wants to speak to Trump on the phone soon.
"It's a good plan for Russia and for Ukraine," said US government spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at a press conference at the White House. "And we believe it should be acceptable to both sides."
However, Ukraine's European supporters, who always want to be involved in negotiations, were rather surprised by the US move. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul did not see the concept as a finished plan, but rather as a contribution to bringing the parties to the conflict to the table. And indeed, the compromise proposal contains several points that would hardly be acceptable to the Europeans.
This is what the proposal envisages
According to consistent reports from the US news portal "Axios" and other media, the draft from Washington provides for territorial concessions by Ukraine and much more: Crimea and the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are also occupied, would be recognized as de facto Russian. In addition, Ukraine must constitutionally refrain from joining NATO, limit the size of its army to 600,000 men and remain free of nuclear weapons. Although it may - at least theoretically - join the EU, this is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future in view of the complicated situation.
In return, Ukraine has been promised "reliable security guarantees" from the USA, although it remains completely open as to what this means in practice. Russia, which began the war of aggression in February 2022 in violation of international law, is to renounce further territorial claims and commit itself by law to renouncing aggression towards Europe and Ukraine. Confiscated Russian state assets worth billions are to be used to promote reconstruction and investment in Ukraine - a condition that is unlikely to be easy for Moscow to accept.
A US-Russian working group on security issues is to ensure that the agreements are adhered to - and a "peace council" under Trump's chairmanship is to guarantee compliance with the agreement. Once all sides have agreed to the peace plan and the military withdrawal to agreed positions has been completed, the ceasefire is to begin. In addition, elections are to be held in Ukraine 100 days after the conclusion of the agreement.
USA wants to be rewarded
According to US government spokeswoman Leavitt, the plan was drawn up by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff over a period of weeks. Both had exchanged views with representatives of Russia and Ukraine in order to understand what each country was prepared to do in order to achieve lasting peace.
According to the peace plan, the USA would be remunerated for its undefined security guarantees. They are to benefit from various economic projects, for example in the energy sector and in the exploitation of rare earths. Russia, on the other hand, would be reintegrated into the global economy after all the sanctions of recent years and invited to rejoin the group of leading industrial nations following its temporary exclusion. This would turn the G7 back into the G8.
The US attaches great importance to the agreement being sealed as quickly as possible, the chargé d'affaires of the US embassy in Kiev, Julie Davis, told the news portal "Ukrajinska Pravda".
Wadephul emphasizes: Everything is in flux
Federal Foreign Minister Wadephul said that he had spoken at length with the US special envoy Witkoff on the phone. Speaking on ZDF's "heute journal", the CDU politician said that every effort to bring the two sides together was right and worthy of support. Everything was in flux and US Secretary of State Rubio had also said that a list of issues and options still needed to be weighed up and discussed.
Putin sticks to war aims
There was initially no official reaction from Moscow after the 28 points became known. President Vladimir Putin, however, demonstratively visited a command post of the Russian army and reaffirmed his adherence to his war aims during an appearance in camouflage uniform. "We have our common tasks, our goals. The most important thing is to achieve the goals of the special military operation," Putin was quoted as saying by the Kremlin. The head of state had generals brief him on the advance of his troops in Ukraine.
Five dead in air attack on Zaporizhia
At least five people were killed by a Russian airstrike in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia at night. Three others were injured, the governor of the region, Ivan Fedorov, announced on Telegram. He gave no details of the weapon used, but there had previously been warnings of a glide bomb attack. The industrial city is located just over 20 kilometers from the front line.
It is also home to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant - one of the largest in Europe - which is occupied by Russian troops. Trump's peace plan envisages the nuclear power plant being placed under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The electricity produced there would then be shared equally between Ukraine and Russia.
