A major shift in the Ukraine peace negotiations has emerged as the United States and Ukraine quietly move away from a controversial proposal backed by Donald Trump and introduce a new, more balanced 19-point plan.
According to members of the Ukrainian delegation, the earlier 28-point proposal drafted by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian sovereign wealth fund chief Kirill Dmitriev had alarmed officials in Kyiv and across Europe. That initial document demanded that Ukraine surrender territory still under its control, permanently abandon NATO membership, and accept strict limits on its military. Trump reportedly wanted President Volodymyr Zelensky to sign it before Thanksgiving.
Ukrainian leaders saw the plan as a non-starter, and European allies raised similar concerns.
US–Ukraine Negotiators Replace Trump-Backed Plan
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s first deputy foreign minister, revealed that negotiators from Washington and Kyiv have now crafted a very different framework.
He told the Financial Times that the new document removes nearly all of the original proposals:
“Very few things are left from the original version… Almost everything we suggested was taken on board.”
He explained that while a number of issues have been resolved, the most sensitive questions territory and NATO will require direct discussions between Trump and Zelensky.
Zelensky: “Many correct elements” added to new plan
In his nightly address, Zelensky confirmed that the updated framework contains fewer points and includes provisions that align more closely with Ukraine’s priorities.
He noted that the new outline appears influenced by a separate counterproposal from the UK, France, and Germany. That European framework keeps NATO membership on the table for Ukraine and postpones the territorial question until after a ceasefire.
Russia Rejects European Proposal
The Kremlin, however, dismissed the European-influenced plan.
Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to Vladimir Putin, called it “unconstructive,” insisting it does not meet Russia’s security demands.
Putin has repeatedly argued that NATO membership for Ukraine poses a threat to Russia and has even questioned Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent state. He said the earlier US-drafted plan before revisions could serve as a starting point but would still need “substantive discussion.”
Trump Signals Cautious Optimism
Although Trump has long promised to end the war “within 24 hours,” he responded more carefully this time.
On social media, he wrote that progress “just may be happening,” but told followers not to assume anything yet.
White House: Only a Few Disagreements Left
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told Fox News that negotiators have narrowed the remaining disagreements to just a few points. She said the administration is hopeful a ceasefire agreement is within reach, but also emphasized the strain of continuous weapons support:
“We cannot do this forever, and the president wants this war to end.”
What this Means Going Forward
If this new 19-point plan reflects broader Western consensus, it could mark the first meaningful convergence between Washington, Kyiv, and key European partners. However, the real test will come when Trump and Zelensky confront the difficult unresolved issues especially NATO and territorial control.
With both sides expressing cautious optimism, the next round of talks may determine whether the war moves closer to a ceasefire or returns to political deadlock.
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