Axios on Wednesday reported that US President Donald Trump is advancing a new proposal to halt the war in Ukraine, a plan that would hand Russia additional territory in exchange for security guarantees for Kiev and Europe, according to a US official familiar with the discussions. The approach, which has not been formally accepted by Ukraine, would cement Moscow’s control over areas it does not yet fully occupy and is already generating significant unease among Ukraine’s supporters.

Under the proposal, Russia would obtain full de facto authority over the Donbas, Luhansk and Donetsk, even though Ukrainian forces still hold roughly 14.5% of that region. The territory Kiev would withdraw from would be designated a demilitarized zone where Russia would not be allowed to station troops. In the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, front lines would largely remain as they are now, with the possibility of limited adjustments based on negotiations.

Territorial Concessions

The plan also envisions the United States and several other countries recognizing Crimea and the Donbas as Russian, though Ukraine itself would not be required to acknowledge those annexations. A Ukrainian official said the proposal includes restrictions on the size of Ukraine’s armed forces and its long-range weapons capabilities, offered in return for US security guarantees. The same official confirmed that the draft plan involves Ukrainian concessions in the Donbas.

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Officials say it remains unclear what the US security commitments would entail beyond a promise to deter or respond to further Russian aggression. Still, the White House assessment, according to the US official, is that Ukraine is likely to lose additional territory if the conflict continues, and “therefore it is in Ukraine’s interest to reach a deal now.”

Regional Mediation

Two sources told Axios that Qatar and Turkey are helping shape the proposal and supporting the mediation effort. “The Qatari and Turkish mediation helped in ending the war in Gaza and could help in ending the war in Ukraine,” one source noted. A senior Qatari official participated in last weekend’s briefing between Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Ukrainian national security adviser Rustem Umerov, the sources said.

According to one source, Umerov had Zelensky’s authorization to engage in the discussions, and several of his observations were reflected in the 28-point document. The Ukrainian side, however, insists that Umerov only received an oral outline and did not agree to the terms. A Ukrainian official stressed that Kiev opposes numerous elements of the plan.

Stalled Diplomacy

Before meeting Umerov, Witkoff held extensive talks with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev. As part of Turkey’s role in supporting the initiative, Witkoff planned to travel to Ankara on Wednesday for a trilateral meeting with Zelensky and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, a US official said. The meeting was later postponed amid reports that Zelensky was distancing himself from earlier understandings and intended to present an alternative proposal drafted with European partners. Another US official said a corruption scandal inside Ukraine’s presidential circle also contributed to the decision to delay the encounter.

"We are now going to wait. The ball is in Zelensky’s court," the US official stated, adding that the Ukrainian president can come to Washington to discuss the proposal if he chooses.

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