The High-Stakes Diplomacy: U.S. Peace Plan for Ukraine Faces Moscow Test
Setting the Stage
After months of war and failed ceasefires, the United States has put forward a revised peace plan for Ukraine. What began as a 28-point proposal has now been streamlined to 19 points following intense negotiations with Ukrainian officials. The plan is designed to balance Ukraine’s sovereignty with Russia’s demands, but its success hinges on one man: Vladimir Putin.
The Moscow Talks
On December 2, President Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner sat down with Putin at the Kremlin. The five-hour meeting was described by Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov as “constructive and meaningful,” yet no breakthrough was achieved. This was Witkoff’s sixth meeting with Putin, but Kushner’s first direct involvement — a sign of how seriously Washington is treating the effort.
Putin acknowledged that Trump’s plan could serve as a basis for negotiations, but he reiterated his hardline stance: Russia will not stop the war until it controls the entire Donbas region.
The Miami Negotiations
Just days before Moscow, Witkoff, Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with a Ukrainian delegation led by national security adviser Rustem Umerov in Miami.
• Focus: Where the de facto border with Russia would be drawn under a peace deal.
• Ukraine’s Position: President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top general briefed the Americans on the battlefield realities and outlined possible steps in the event of a ceasefire.
• Outcome: The 19-point plan was further revised during these talks, reflecting Ukraine’s insistence on protecting sovereignty while acknowledging the painful concessions being discussed.
Witkoff even held two additional meetings with Umerov before flying to Moscow, underscoring the urgency of the diplomacy.
The Stakes
• For Ukraine: Handing over territory in Donbas would be politically explosive, risking domestic backlash and weakening sovereignty.
• For Russia: Putin seeks recognition of control over Donbas, framing it as non-negotiable.
• For the U.S.: Trump’s team is betting that concessions could convince Putin to accept peace, but risks alienating Kyiv if the deal is seen as too favorable to Moscow.
What Comes Next
Witkoff and Kushner are expected to brief Zelensky in Europe on Wednesday, updating him on the Kremlin talks. The next phase of diplomacy will test whether the revised plan can bridge the gap between Russia’s demands and Ukraine’s survival.
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| Russia President Putin and USA Diplomat |
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