US Peace Proposal for Ukraine Sparks Backlash from European Officials
A draft proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, submitted by the Trump administration, has been met with swift resistance from Ukrainian officials and several of its European allies. The plan, developed by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, includes provisions that would significantly downsize Ukraine's military, forsake certain long-range weapons, and accept Russian control over occupied territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed receipt of the draft proposal on Thursday, stating that his country has been striving for peace since the Russian invasion. However, other Ukrainian officials have dismissed its core elements as "absurd" and amounting to "unconditional capitulation." Ukrainian MP Iryna Gerashchenko suggested the plan duplicates Russia's 2022 demands for capitulation and serves as a probe to gauge Kyiv's willingness to concede ground.
European leaders have also expressed strong opposition to the proposal. French Foreign Minister Jean-NoΓ«l Barrot stated that "peace cannot be capitulation," emphasizing that Ukraine must not surrender its sovereignty. Poland's foreign minister, RadosΕaw Sikorski, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that none of the region's governments were involved in drafting the proposal.
The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, stressed that any viable plan would require both Ukrainian and European backing. However, she noted that there had been no concessions from the Russian side during the war so far. This comes as the conflict enters its fourth year, with ongoing Russian attacks across the front lines and Zelensky facing increasing political pressures at home.
Critics argue that the proposal would undermine Ukraine's position in the Donbas region, which accounts for approximately 14% of Ukrainian territory. Under the plan, the Donbas region would be reduced to a demilitarized zone, effectively surrendering control over roughly one-third of its land to Russia. The move has sparked widespread condemnation from Ukrainian officials and European leaders, who view it as an unacceptable concession.
As diplomatic efforts continue, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration's proposal can yield meaningful progress in ending the war in Ukraine.
A draft proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, submitted by the Trump administration, has been met with swift resistance from Ukrainian officials and several of its European allies. The plan, developed by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, includes provisions that would significantly downsize Ukraine's military, forsake certain long-range weapons, and accept Russian control over occupied territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed receipt of the draft proposal on Thursday, stating that his country has been striving for peace since the Russian invasion. However, other Ukrainian officials have dismissed its core elements as "absurd" and amounting to "unconditional capitulation." Ukrainian MP Iryna Gerashchenko suggested the plan duplicates Russia's 2022 demands for capitulation and serves as a probe to gauge Kyiv's willingness to concede ground.
European leaders have also expressed strong opposition to the proposal. French Foreign Minister Jean-NoΓ«l Barrot stated that "peace cannot be capitulation," emphasizing that Ukraine must not surrender its sovereignty. Poland's foreign minister, RadosΕaw Sikorski, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that none of the region's governments were involved in drafting the proposal.
The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, stressed that any viable plan would require both Ukrainian and European backing. However, she noted that there had been no concessions from the Russian side during the war so far. This comes as the conflict enters its fourth year, with ongoing Russian attacks across the front lines and Zelensky facing increasing political pressures at home.
Critics argue that the proposal would undermine Ukraine's position in the Donbas region, which accounts for approximately 14% of Ukrainian territory. Under the plan, the Donbas region would be reduced to a demilitarized zone, effectively surrendering control over roughly one-third of its land to Russia. The move has sparked widespread condemnation from Ukrainian officials and European leaders, who view it as an unacceptable concession.
As diplomatic efforts continue, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration's proposal can yield meaningful progress in ending the war in Ukraine.
. newsflash: peace doesn't always mean sacrificing your core values or interests, you know? 
it's easy to get swept up in the idea of an end to the war and just agree to whatever comes across the table, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good deal for everyone involved. 
that's not how diplomacy is supposed to work.
. when you're talking about giving up control over 14% of your territory, it's like saying "you're not important enough to defend" 
that's not peace, that's defeat.
the us thinks it can just hand ukraine over to russia like that?? what about all the ppl who died or got hurt in this war?! zelenskyy's stance makes sense tho, he cant just give away half of his country to save face, that's not peace that's defeat 
i feel like the eu is right tho, we gotta be backing ukraine 1000% if we want to see a real end to this conflict, can't let russia get away with its aggression 
. Like I said to my friend the other day, if Ukraine has to give up that much control over its own land, what's the point of even calling it a "peace proposal" 
. We need a real plan that addresses both sides' concerns and doesn't just sacrifice one side's interests like that 
. My friend agrees with me on this one for sure! 
gotta keep Ukraine's sovereignty intact 
? Russia's got its own issues, can't they focus on that instead of trying to take more land? 
Russia is already occupying so much of Ukraine, it feels like they're just trying to get away with everything. And now this US plan is like, "Hey, let's just make you surrender your sovereignty?" 
it feels like europe is just gonna sit back and watch russia take over 
what's with the US trying to sell out their allies? Ukraine's been through hell already and now they're asking them to just give up territory? it's absurd. European leaders are right, peace can't be at the cost of sovereignty. Zelenskyy is in a tough spot but he can't just sign over land to Russia without even negotiating. And what's with the Trump admin thinking they can just hand us this proposal and expect everyone to be like "oh okay"? The Donbas region is key, it's not just some random territory. This whole thing feels like a ploy to get Ukraine to cave in. gotta keep pushing for real concessions from Russia 
. I mean, I get that everyone wants to stop the fighting, but downsize Ukraine's military and give up control over occupied territory? That just feels like a bunch of lip service to me 
It's all about finding that delicate balance between peace and security, you know? And what about the people who are already suffering in the Donbas region? They're not getting any younger waiting for someone to make some concessions 
.
ukrainian officials r right 2 dismiss this proposal it's like they're tryna probe kyiv's willingness 2 surrender 
The whole thing is just so frustrating... 
. and whats with the special envoy dude steve witkoff? doesnt he know anything about geopolitics?