Trump-backed Ukraine deal is torn up and replaced | World | News
The United States and Ukraine have prepared a new 19-point peace plan to replace previous proposals supported by President Trump, according to a member of the Ukrainian delegation.
The first 28-point peace plan, revealed last week, was prepared by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Kremlin’s sovereign wealth fund.
The original plan called for Ukraine to cede territory still under its control to Russia, prevented Kiev from joining NATO, and placed restrictions on the size of the Ukrainian armed forces. Trump said he wanted President Zelensky to sign the agreement by Thursday, when Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving.
But according to The Times, Ukrainian first deputy foreign minister Sergiy Kyslytsya said that US and Ukrainian negotiators are now developing a new set of proposals that differ significantly from the initial plan and are causing concern in Kiev and among its European allies.
The first 28-point peace plan, revealed last week, was prepared by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Kremlin’s sovereign wealth fund.
The original plan called for Ukraine to cede its territory and limit its ties with NATO
The original plan called for Ukraine to cede territory still under its control to Russia, prevented Kiev from joining NATO, and placed restrictions on the size of the Ukrainian armed forces. Trump said he wanted President Zelensky to sign the agreement by Thursday, when Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving.
But Ukrainian first deputy foreign minister Sergiy Kyslytsya said US and Ukrainian negotiators were now developing a new set of proposals that differed significantly from the initial plan and caused concern in Kiev and among its European allies.
“There is very little left of the original version,” he told the Financial Times. “We’ve developed a solid structure of engagement and a few things we can agree on. The rest will require leadership decisions. Pretty much everything we’ve suggested has been taken into account.”
He said that the delegations had reached agreement on various points, but that the question of territorial issues and NATO’s relationship with Ukraine would be left to Trump and President Zelensky.
Zelensky confirmed that the new plan includes fewer points and the “right elements” are included
Zelensky said in his video speech at night: “As of now [talks in] There are no longer 28 points in Geneva, but fewer, and many correct elements have been included in this framework. “I will discuss sensitive issues, the most sensitive points, with President Trump.”
The plan has not yet been published, but is believed to be based on a European counter-proposal drawn up by Britain, France and Germany that would have left the door open to Ukraine’s NATO membership and postponed discussion on territorial issues until after the ceasefire.
Kremlin aide calls European plan ‘unconstructive’
But the Kremlin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said on Monday that the European plan “at first glance is completely unconstructive and does not work for us.”
Questioning Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent country, President Putin claims that Kiev’s membership in NATO would pose an unacceptable threat to Russia’s national security.
He said the US’s initial plan could form the basis of a final agreement to end the war, which would be the largest agreement in Europe since 1945, but would need “significant discussion”.
Trump, who promised to end the war within 24 hours during his election campaign, was more optimistic. He wrote on social media: “Is it really possible to make major progress in the Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine? Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good might be happening.”
White House says only “few points of disagreement” remain
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that there are now only “a few sticking points” left to resolve.
“The President remains hopeful and optimistic that an agreement can be reached,” Leavitt told Fox News.
“The United States is still sending or selling large amounts of weapons to NATO, we cannot do this forever, and the president wants this war to end,” he said.
