Zelensky
US plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine: Where it stands now
There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity between Washington, Kyiv, Moscow and European capitals to discuss a plan to end the war. But US President Donald Trump says he’s tired of talking — he wants action.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is under pressure to accept a US-backed peace deal.
US President Donald Trump is “extremely frustrated” with Russia and Ukraine over the ongoing war, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday.
“He doesn’t want any more talk. He wants action. He wants this war to come to an end,” she said.
Despite a recent US diplomatic push, Ukraine and Russia have rejected key elements of Washington’s proposal, and talks on a final plan are ongoing.
Ukraine is insisting on US and European security guarantees before agreeing to end the war, while Russia is demanding territorial concessions, which Ukraine considers unacceptable and says would leave it exposed to future attacks.
At a glance: what the different sides want
Ukraine, Russia, the US and Europe are all pursuing slightly — or very — different goals. Here is a quick overview of the key points:
• Ukraine wants security guarantees, rejects territorial concessions and wants to keep the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
• Russia seeks control of all of the Donbas region and opposes NATO expansion
• Europe and NATO are pushing for a fair peace and warn of the urgent threat to Europe from Russia
• The US wants the war ended fast and is increasingly frustrated with the protracted peace talks
Ukraine has submitted a response to a revised 20-point US plan this week, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Washington is still urging Kyiv to make major territorial concessions as part of a potential accord.
“They see Ukrainian forces leaving the territory of Donetsk region, and the supposed compromise is that Russian forces do not enter this territory … which they already call a ‘free economic zone’,” Zelenskyy told reporters on Thursday.
The 20-point draft reportedly proposed the creation of a demilitarized zone along the line of contact.
The Ukrainian leader said any compromise on territory should be decided by popular vote.
“I believe that the people of Ukraine will answer this question. Whether through elections or a referendum, there must be a position from the people of Ukraine,” he told journalists.
Zelenskyy said the other major sticking point is who controls the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The US has offered potential joint governance of the plant, the largest such facility in Europe which is currently occupied by Russia.
Moscow wants to keep the station under its own control, but Kyiv opposes Russia retaining it.
Zelenskyy said the US had not imposed a strict deadline to accept the peace plan, despite reports Trump wanted Ukraine to accept it by Christmas.
“I think they really wanted, or perhaps still want, to have a complete understanding of where we stand with this agreement by Christmas,” he said.
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