Trump blueprint to end Russia-Ukraine war: 'European jets in Poland, give up Donbas, military cut by more than half'

A 28-point “draft plan”, backed by the United States, aiming to end the Russia-Ukraine war, reportedly calls for the “recognition of Crimea and other regions that the Russians have taken”. Details, accessed by news agency AFP, revealed the plan also demands Ukraine cut its military by “more than half” and lift sanctions on Moscow over time.

According to the report, Washington officially presented the "draft plan" to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Multiple reports claimed that the terms of the draft plan seem to favour Russia, requiring concessions that Kyiv had previously ruled out as tantamount to capitulation.

US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Ukraine war

The plan, reportedly worked out between President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev, proposes the following key points:

1. The plan calls for the “recognition of Crimea and other regions [Luhansk and Donetsk] that the Russians have taken”, sources told AFP. Russia had annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

On territory, the plan calls for the "recognition of Crimea and other regions [Luhansk and Donetsk] that the Russians have taken", sources told AFP. Russia had annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

2. Ukraine would give up the eastern Donbas region to Russia, according to a draft seen by AFP on Thursday. Donbas comprises the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that Ukraine currently hold.

3. The plan calls for Ukraine to reduce its army to 400,000-600,000 personnel, cutting its military by more than half. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously demanded that Ukraine completely withdraw its troops from Donetsk and Lugansk.

4. Kyiv would also be required to give up all long-range weapons.

5. European fighter jets would be based in Poland to protect Ukraine, but no NATO troops would be stationed in Ukraine, and Kyiv would agree never to join the military alliance, according to the plan. Russia has repeatedly said it will not tolerate any NATO troops on Ukrainian soil.

6. $100 billion in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. Ukraine would receive a US security guarantee — albeit one for which Washington would be compensated.

7. The US would also get 50% of profits to rebuild and invest in Ukraine, and also enter an economic partnership with Russia once sanctions are lifted — reintegrating Russia in the global economy.

8. The country would also return to what was formerly known as the Group of 8, which includes many of the world's biggest economies — a symbolic move that would end its international isolation.

The latest proposal was worked out between President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, according to sources quoted by Bloomberg. It follows past Witkoff efforts that Ukraine has been wary of and faced almost immediate opposition from Europe.

Axios published the text of the plan earlier Thursday. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Notably, a delegation of top US military officials, led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, was in Kyiv this week to discuss avenues for progress. Options include ramping up military support, according to sources.

Ukraine reacts

Ukrainian President Zelensky has received the draft and is expected to discuss the “key points required to achieve peace” with President Donald Trump in the coming days, Zelensky's office said.

“We are ready now, as before, to work constructively with the American side, as well as with our partners in Europe and around the world so that the outcome is peace,” a statement published on Telegram said.

Rough draft of 28-point plan as reported by local media:

1. Ukraine’s sovereignty will be confirmed.

2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled.

3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further.

4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development.

5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees.

6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel.

7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future.

8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.

9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland.

10. The U.S. guarantee:

— The U.S. will receive compensation for the guarantee;

— If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee;

— If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked;

— If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid.

11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered.

12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to:

— The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence.

— The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernize, and operate Ukraine’s gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.

— Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernization of cities and residential areas.

— Infrastructure development.

— Extraction of minerals and natural resources.

— The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts.

13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy:

— The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis.

— The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities.

— Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8.

14. Frozen funds will be used as follows:

— $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine;

— The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict.

15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement.

16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine.

17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty.

18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

19. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine — 50:50.

20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice:

— Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities.

— Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education.

— All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited.

21. Territories:

— Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States.

— Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact.

— Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions.

— Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone.

22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment.

23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea.

24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues:

— All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an ‘all for all’ basis.

— All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children.

— A family reunification program will be implemented.

— Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict.

25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days.

26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future.

27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations.

28. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement.