Ukraine has sent a proposal to US President Donald Trump detailing territorial concessions it may be prepared to make in a peace deal with Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed the breakthrough on Thursday, calling it a major step forward in ending the nearly four-year war.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insists all parties share the same objective. «And what President Trump wants, what Ukraine wants, what Europeans want is the same thing, which is a just and lasting peace in Ukraine after the nearly four-year aggression from Putin and Russia,» he said during a visit to Norfolk.
Merz stressed that only Ukraine can decide its future. «It mainly concerns the question of what territorial concessions Ukraine is prepared to make,» he explained. «The Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people have to answer the question.» He warned at a joint press conference with NATO chief Mark Rutte that «it would be a mistake to force the Ukrainian president into a peace that his people will not accept after four years of suffering and death».
Trump's position and pressure
Trump spoke by phone with Merz, Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, using what Merz described as «strong words» to express impatience with the pace of negotiations. The US president has repeatedly said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky «has to be realistic» about ceding territory to Russia.
In an interview with Politico, Trump criticized European allies as «weak» and accused them of «talking too much» but «not delivering» peace. When asked about leverage at the negotiating table, Trump said: «There can be no doubt about that. It's Russia. It's a much bigger country.»
European leaders issued a statement Wednesday calling this «a critical moment» in negotiations. Talks between European and US officials are planned for this weekend, with an international meeting of Ukraine's allies potentially taking place early next week.
Wider peace framework
US and Ukrainian officials are separately developing a comprehensive peace package. The broader framework includes fast-tracking Ukraine into the EU by 2027, offering Article 5-style US security guarantees, and creating a Korea-style demilitarized zone along the front line.
The plan also envisions returning the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to Ukrainian control and unlocking up to $200 billion in frozen Russian assets for reconstruction. The negotiation consists of three draft documents covering a peace plan, security guarantees, and economic recovery.
Military developments
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks of the war overnight. Russian defense ministry said air defenses intercepted 287 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions. The strikes halted flights at all four Moscow airports for seven hours and caused restrictions at airports in eight other Russian cities.
The timing appears strategic. Analysts suggest the attack demonstrates Ukraine's military capability as Russia seeks to portray itself as negotiating from a position of strength, despite having captured only about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Starmer emphasized the human cost in his comments. «If there is to be a ceasefire and I hope there is, the Ukrainians want that above all else, it must be just and it must be lasting,» he said. A Downing Street spokesman confirmed «intensive work on the peace plan is continuing and will continue in the coming days».
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
