US envoy to deliver 22-point Ukraine peace plan to Putin
3 Min Read
The proposal, which draws on months of backchannel diplomacy in Paris, Riyadh, and St. Petersburg, attempts to address Russia's core security concerns while laying the groundwork for further negotiations.
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Russian Air Force Su-25 jets fly over Red Square leaving trails of smoke in the colours of the Russian national flag during the Victory Day military parade rehearsal with the Spasskaya Tower, left, and the St. Basil's Cathedral, right, in Moscow, Russia, on Monday, May 5, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to present Russian President Vladimir Putin with a comprehensive 22-point peace proposal designed to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, NBC News reported.
The plan, developed through coordinated efforts by US, European, and Ukrainian negotiators, centers on a 30-day ceasefire and includes a pivotal concession: a US commitment not to support Ukraine's bid to join NATO, an issue that has long been a red line for Moscow.
The proposal, which draws on months of backchannel diplomacy in Paris, Riyadh, and St. Petersburg, attempts to address Russia's core security concerns while laying the groundwork for further negotiations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underscored the Kremlin's position, stating that any meaningful agreement must tackle "threats to Russia's national security stemming from NATO's eastward expansion" and ensure "full respect for human rights in the territories that remain under Kiev's control following the 2014 coup in Ukraine."
The US-led plan is being delivered amid a broader diplomatic push to de-escalate the conflict. It closely follows a separate initiative led by Ukraine and its Western allies, who on Saturday offered a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting Monday, pending Russia's agreement and international monitoring.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced the proposal, stating, "Ukraine and all allies are ready for a full, unconditional ceasefire on land, air, and at sea for at least 30 days starting already on Monday. If Russia agrees and effective monitoring is ensured, a durable ceasefire and confidence-building measures can pave the way to peace negotiations."
Read more: Ukraine, allies back 30-day ceasefire from Monday if Russia agrees
However, Russia's response has been conditional. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that any truce must include a total halt to US and European arms shipments to Ukraine. "Otherwise, it will be an advantage for Ukraine. Ukraine will continue their total mobilisation, bringing new troops to (the) frontline," he told ABC News. While Putin reportedly supports a ceasefire "in principle," Russian officials argue that current battlefield dynamics and Western involvement undermine any pause's feasibility.
Concerns have also emerged within Western capitals over elements of the 22-point plan, particularly what some interpret as tacit acceptance of Russia's control over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders have warned that any deal perceived to erode Ukrainian sovereignty could backfire, fueling further resistance both domestically and internationally.
The matter had previously been reported by the Washington Post on April 22.
