Trump’s 28-point Ukraine peace plan forces Zelensky to consider “painful concessions,” including territorial losses and NATO renunciation, as Europe pushes back.
Sseema Giill
The Trump administration has formally presented a 28-point Ukraine–Russia peace proposal to President Volodymyr Zelensky, demanding what Zelensky himself called “painful concessions.” Delivered in Kyiv on November 20 by U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, the proposal requires Ukraine to surrender eastern territory, constitutionally renounce NATO membership, reduce its military size, and accept “de facto” Russian control of Crimea and Donbas.
The plan was drafted secretly by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff in cooperation with Russian intermediary Kirill Dmitriev, triggering political shockwaves in Europe and deepening Ukraine’s internal crisis.
The new plan is the Trump administration’s most ambitious attempt to end the war since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Over the past month, Witkoff engaged in unpublicized negotiations with Dmitriev — without Ukraine or European allies present.
Leaked details surfaced earlier this week, with Axios, The Washington Post, and ABC News describing a proposal that closely mirrors Moscow’s original 2022 demands. European leaders learned of the plan only from media reports, sparking diplomatic anger.
On Thursday morning, Driscoll arrived in Kyiv without advance notice to hand Zelensky the written document. Both sides described the proposal as a “living document,” though U.S. officials have privately pushed for a Thanksgiving signing deadline (November 27, 2025).
Zelensky, addressing the nation hours later, admitted the concessions would be “painful” while promising to evaluate the proposal “without rash statements.”
Confronted with a historic decision and simultaneous corruption scandal, Zelensky is under pressure from allies and domestic critics alike.
Quote: “Ukraine is ready, as before, to work constructively with the American side… We will avoid any rash statements as we evaluate the proposal.”
Architect of the plan and lead negotiator with Russia. Worked closely with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Quote (via White House): “The president endorses this plan… It is beneficial for both Russia and Ukraine.”
Angered by exclusion and concerned that the plan rewards Russian aggression.
Quote (French FM Jean-Noël Barrot): “Peace cannot be a capitulation.”
Delivered plan personally, framing it as coming from a “position of trust.”
Quote: “The U.S. Army is a proven ally of Ukraine.”
Most outlets are focusing on the territorial surrender and NATO renunciation in Trump’s plan.
But the deeper story is the geopolitical power shift it exposes.
The U.S. drafted a peace agreement that fundamentally alters Ukraine’s borders and future without Ukraine, NATO, or the EU in the room — and then delivered it as an ultimatum.
This is not merely a negotiation. It is a test of whether Ukraine still possesses meaningful agency, or whether Washington and Moscow are reshaping Europe’s map over Kyiv’s head.
The Thanksgiving deadline adds another layer: a peace deal on America’s timetable, not Ukraine’s.
A Ukrainian acceptance would lock in Russia’s territorial gains, legitimize the 2022–24 invasions, and fundamentally weaken the European security architecture.
For Ukraine, renouncing NATO membership and accepting Russian control of Crimea and Donbas would end the war — but at the cost of future deterrence. Critics warn it could invite another invasion a decade later.
For Europe, the proposal revives fears of a U.S. strategic retrenchment. If Trump’s deal goes through, the EU may need to consider building a parallel security framework independent of Washington.
For the U.S., the plan marks a pivot from deterrence to transactional diplomacy — with significant profit structures embedded in the frozen assets proposal.
And for Zelensky, the decision could define his legacy: end the war at great cost, or reject the deal and risk losing U.S. support.
If a peace deal demands concessions that reshape a nation’s borders, military, and alliances, can it still be called peace—or is it simply a quieter form of defeat?
Territorial surrender in Donbas, acceptance of Russian control over Crimea, constitutional NATO renunciation, and shrinking Ukraine’s military to 600,000 troops.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian intermediary Kirill Dmitriev, developed in secret over the last month.
European allies were excluded from drafting and argue the plan forces Ukraine into “capitulation” rather than a durable peace.
U.S. officials privately indicated a Thanksgiving deadline — November 27, 2025.
Vague U.S. “security guarantees,” access to frozen Russian assets, economic cooperation, and reconstruction financing.
Washington Post – Trump peace plan pressures Ukraine
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/21/ukraine-war-peace-proposal-witkoff-thanksgiving/
Times of India – Zelensky’s “painful concessions”
ABC News – Full 28-point plan
Axios – Driscoll’s Kyiv meeting
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/20/trump-ukraine-plan-zelensky-driscoll-meeting
CNN – Territorial and military concessions
https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/ukraine-russia-trump-peace-proposal
Wall Street Journal – Russia’s gains
https://www.wsj.com/world/u-s-peace-plan-for-ukraine-faces-resistance-from-europe-and-kyiv-0f2bb501
Reuters – European pushback
Al Jazeera – Zelensky’s public remarks
The Hill – Zelensky preparing for Trump call
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5615788-zelensky-trump-peace-plan/
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