White House Eyes Thanksgiving Deadline for Ukraine Peace Proposal
The White House is asking Ukraine to accept a new 28-point peace proposal by next week or risk losing U.S. support in its war with Russia. U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll delivered the plan in Kyiv on Thursday to President Zelensky.
The proposal, drafted by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in coordination with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, was leaked to the media Friday morning. The plan was drafted without Ukrainian or other European involvement, and outlines sweeping concessions in exchange for “reliable security guarantees” from the United States.
Among its key provisions, the proposal would require Ukraine to cede control of Donetsk Oblast, a territory currently home to over 250,000 Ukrainians. It also calls for a reduction in the size of Ukrainian forces from 800,000 to 600,000, and a promise to not join NATO via constitutional amendment.
The draft further calls for $100 billion of frozen Russian assets to be invested in “US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine”, with the U.S. receiving 50% of the profits. European allies would contribute an additional $100 billion for reconstruction. This approach is reminiscent of the US minerals deal struck earlier this year, which granted the U.S. preferential access to future Ukrainian minerals deals.
Zelensky warned Ukrainians on Friday that the country is facing “one of the most difficult moments in our history,” saying Washington is pushing Kyiv toward a deal that risks rewarding Russian aggression. “Ukraine may face a very tough choice, either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner,” he said. While the U.S. has scaled back direct assistance, Washington continues to facilitate European weapons transfers and share critical intelligence, support that U.S. officials have signaled could be withdrawn if Kyiv refuses to engage.
European leaders reacted quickly, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reassuring Zelensky of their continued support for a “lasting and just peace,” though they stopped short of directly criticizing the U.S. plan. Merz confirmed Friday afternoon that he had “discussed the plan for peace for Ukraine” with President Trump and would be briefing other E.U. leaders. Driscoll, who has become central to the peace efforts, is expected to spend the weekend briefing NATO and European allies on the talks.
President Zelensky has been politically weakened in recent weeks by a major scandal implicating a close friend and former business partner in a kickback scheme at a Ukrainian nuclear power company. While Zelensky has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the scandal has some Trump administration officials optimistic that Kyiv may be more inclined to accept a deal.
The U.S. plan remains in flux, according to the White House, and its role in the administration’s broader diplomatic strategy is still evolving. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was involved in drafting the proposal, characterized it as “a list of potential ideas for ending the war”. For now, however, Witkoff’s proposal is the only formal framework on the table, setting off urgent deliberations among Kyiv, Brussels, and other key partners as the Thanksgiving deadline approaches.