White House Defends US Plan as ‘Good’ for Russia and Ukraine Amid Criticism
The White House on Thursday defended a US peace proposal backed by President Donald Trump to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, calling it “good” for both sides even as critics warned it mirrors key Kremlin demands. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been working “quietly” on the initiative for a month.
“It’s ongoing and it’s in flux, but the president supports this plan,” Leavitt said. “It should be acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.”
During meetings in Kyiv with a Pentagon delegation led by US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that any peace deal must deliver a “dignified peace” and fully respect Ukraine’s “independence” and “sovereignty.” His office said he expects to raise the plan directly with Trump in the coming days.
Meanwhile, tensions on the battlefield escalated as Russia claimed to have recaptured the strategic eastern city of Kupiansk. Ukraine denied the assertion, insisting it still controls the city, which changed hands early in the invasion and again later in 2022.
What’s in the US Plan?
A senior source familiar with the 28-point proposal, along with widespread media reporting, indicates the draft heavily favors Russian territorial demands while offering Kyiv little in return.
Territorial Concessions:
The plan reportedly urges Ukraine to recognize Russia’s control over Crimea and other occupied regions. Moscow claims to have annexed Crimea (2014) and four additional territories — Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — in 2022. Russia currently occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine.
Ceding territory, particularly remaining Ukrainian-held areas in Donetsk and Lugansk, could expose the country to renewed Russian aggression. “It is a matter of our country’s survival,” Zelensky said recently.
Demilitarization Provisions:
Ukraine would be required to shrink its armed forces to 400,000 troops — more than a 50% cut — and relinquish all long-range weapons, the senior source told AFP. Western troop deployments to Ukraine would also be completely banned under the proposal, aligning closely with long-standing Russian demands.
Security Guarantees:
The proposal contains vague language about future US-European security guarantees for Ukraine. Kyiv has repeatedly insisted on concrete, enforceable guarantees — ideally NATO membership or a similar collective defense mechanism — along with a European peacekeeping presence to deter future Russian attacks.
Was Russia Involved in Drafting the Plan?
The plan’s contents have fueled speculation about Russian influence. Axios reported the blueprint was crafted in secret consultation with Moscow. The senior source told AFP: “It seems that the Russians proposed this to the Americans, they accepted it.” The official added that it’s unclear whether the initiative reflects Trump’s own views or mainly those of his advisers.
Rubio, responding to the controversy, said “a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.”
Since returning to office, Trump’s stance on the Ukraine war has repeatedly shifted — from attacking Zelensky as a “dictator,” to urging Ukraine to retake all occupied territories, to imposing new sanctions on Moscow.
Kyiv, Brussels React
Ukrainian officials said Washington had told them the proposal “could invigorate diplomacy.” Zelensky confirmed the US delegation presented the plan in Kyiv but withheld specifics.
The Kremlin declined comment when asked about the reports.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that any peace settlement must be acceptable to both Kyiv and the EU. “We have to understand that in this war, there is one aggressor and one victim,” she said. “We haven’t heard of any concessions on the Russian side.”
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