As talks to end Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine continue behind closed doors, new documents from recent negotiations show the gap between what the US wants – and what Ukraine is willing to consider.
Two rounds of talks – one in Paris on April 17 and another lower-level gathering in London on April 23 brought together officials from the US, Ukraine, and European countries. The proposals exchanged at those meetings illustrate competing visions for how to stop the fighting and what peace might look like.
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While the exact terms of the US-proposed deal are yet to be publicly declared, media reports say they include US recognition of Crimea as Russian, reversing its longstanding policy declared following Russia’s 2014 annexation.
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Key elements of the US Plan
According to reports from Reuters and The Telegraph, the US peace plan was delivered in Paris by Trump adviser Steve Witkoff and was described as Washington’s “last offer” – a bid to end the war quickly. In summary, the US wants:
- Recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, officially and permanently.
- Acknowledging Russia’s control over parts of eastern and southern Ukraine, without challenging it
- Ukraine to abandon its bid to join NATO.
- Sanctions placed on Russia since 2014 would be lifted as part of the deal.
- The United States would take control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
- Ukraine would get some form of European-based “security guarantee,” though specifics are vague.
The document does not spell out how the US would ensure Ukraine’s safety in the long term – only that allies would offer broad support. For some in Kyiv and across Europe, that’s not enough.
Ukraine’s response
Ukrainian and European officials responded with a counterproposal during the April 23 meeting in London that lays out five main points and pushes back on some of Washington’s key ideas:
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- No recognition of Crimea or other occupied areas as Russian. Ukraine insists its borders must be respected.
- Any peace deal must respect international law and not be seen as “capitulation.”
- Ukraine should have full control over its armed forces, with no limits on troop number or defense related production.
- Western allies should provide strong, clear security guarantees, possibly modeled on NATO’s Article 5.
- Sanctions against Russia should remain until a long-term peace is seen to hold, and must be reinstated if Russia breaks the terms.
Ukraine’s counterproposal also warns that if Russia keeps control of Crimea, it could pose a long-term threat to other Black Sea nations, such as Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Ukraine is also asking for financial compensation – specifically using frozen Russian assets held abroad – to help reconstruction after the war. The US proposal only mentions compensation without naming sources of funding.
Diplomatic Fallout
On Tuesday, the day before the London meeting, President Zelensky stated that his country would not legally recognize Crimea’s annexation, as media reports suggested the US proposal included.
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After Ukraine’s rejection of one of the US’s key proposals, Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled out from the London talks, citing a tight schedule.
Following Rubio’s withdrawal, the foreign ministers of France and Germanyalso declined to attend. Instead, lower-level officials took part. It was seen as a sign of a setback in the negotiations.
On the same day, Vice President JD Vance warned that Washington could withdraw from the deal if no progress was made, adding that both parties would have to “give up some of the territory they currently own.”
Despite the setbacks, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in an interview with The Telegraph that negotiations are ongoing. He added that there’s still hope a cease-fire could be reached by summer.
What’s Next?
It’s unclear how far apart the sides remain – or whether either proposal will lead to a breakthrough. Both the US and Ukraine say they’re committed to peace, but they’re offering very different paths to get there.
Alisa Orlova
Alisa Orlova is a Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post. For seven years, she has worked as a TV journalist, covering primarily topics on international policy. Back in September 2022, Alisa joined the Kyiv Post team.
