Trump presses Zelenskyy to approve 28-point peace plan – What’s on table for Ukraine and Russia?

United States President Donald Trump on Friday expressed optimism that Washington may have found a potential path to peace between Ukraine and Russia. However, he emphasised that any agreement would require the approval of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Notably, Trump has given Kyiv less than a week to respond to his plan, which includes giving up land and reducing size of its military as part of a peace agreement with Russia aimed at ending their four-year-old war.

“We think we have a way of getting peace, he’s going to have to approve it. I think they’re getting reasonably close, but I don’t want to predict,” Trump said while speaking to the reporters at the Oval Office.”  His remarks come amid extensive discussions over a new US-drafted peace plan that is currently being considered by Kyiv. Reportedly, the proposal is still under development and is expected to undergo significant revisions as negotiations continue.

Inside Trump’s 28-point peace plan

The 28-point plan drafted by the US was formally presented to Ukrainian government this week. Trump’s plan would have Ukraine give up some land in return for security guarantees from the US and a promise from Russia not to attack again, aiming to officially end the war that began in February 2022. If no changes are made in the peace plan, the lines of conflict in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia would be frozen and will have Russia retaining almost all of the area it currently occupies.

According to the draft, the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, would stay under Moscow’s control. The Luhansk and Donetsk areas in eastern Ukraine would also remain under Russian control. Russia would also get a share of the electricity from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia. In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin would be allowed back into a group of advanced economies alongside the US and its key allies.

For its unprovoked attack on Ukraine, Russia would lose financial assets that the US has previously frozen. Under Trump’s plan, $100 billion in assets, mostly held in Europe, would be used to rebuild and invest in Europe, with the US taking half of the profits. Moreover, the plan states that Europe would also pay $100 billion for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Sanctions on Russia would be removed one by one, and Moscow would cooperate with the US on artificial intelligence and mining rare earth metals in the Arctic. The plan further states that Ukraine would be allowed to join the European Union, and children who were forcibly taken from Kyiv would be returned.  Following this, Ukraine is supposed to hold elections within 100 days after their suspension under martial law during the war.

The most important point in the peace plan is that Ukraine would also have to make major concessions. Besides giving up land to Russia, it would drop its bid to join NATO and limit its army to 600,000 troops.

What’s on table for Ukraine and Russia?

1. Ukraine’s sovereignty will be officially recognized.
2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will settle all disputes from the past 30 years.
3. Russia will not invade neighbors, and NATO will not expand further.
4. The U.S. will mediate Russia-NATO dialogue to resolve security issues.
5. Ukraine will receive explicit security guarantees from the U.S.
6. Ukraine’s armed forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel.
7. Ukraine will enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO.
8. NATO will not station troops in Ukraine.
9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland.
10. The U.S. will receive compensation for security guarantees; violations will revoke protections.
11. Ukraine remains eligible for EU membership with preferential market access.
12. A global reconstruction plan will invest in Ukraine’s industries and infrastructure.
13. Russia will rejoin the global economy and G8, with staged sanctions removal.
14. $100 billion of frozen Russian assets will be invested in Ukraine, with the U.S. taking 50% of profits; Europe adds $100 billion.
15. A U.S.-Russia working group will monitor security compliance.
16. Russia will legally commit to non-aggression toward Europe and Ukraine.
17. The U.S. and Russia will extend nuclear non-proliferation treaties.
18. Ukraine will remain a non-nuclear state under the NPT.
19. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant will operate under IAEA supervision, sharing electricity equally.
20. Educational programs will promote tolerance, cultural understanding, and minority protections.
21. Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk will be recognized as Russian; Kherson and Zaporizhzhia frozen along contact lines.
22. Both sides agree not to change territorial arrangements by force.
23. Ukraine can freely use the Dnieper River and export grain via the Black Sea.
24. A humanitarian committee will handle prisoners, detainees, and family reunification.
25. Ukraine will hold elections within 100 days.
26. All parties receive full war amnesty and agree not to pursue claims.
27. The agreement will be legally binding, monitored by a Peace Council led by Trump.
28. A ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed positions.

Ukraine to face tough choice: Zelenskyy

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy on Friday warned that Ukraine could face a tough choice between sacrificing its dignity and freedom or losing Washington’s backing, as Kyiv deliberates on the US-proposed peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Russia, Al Jazeera reported.

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