On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his belief that the United States will impose further sanctions on Russia and provide additional military aid to Ukraine if Russia turns down a U.S.-proposed deal to end the conflict. He stated, “If that’s the case, I think the U.S. will exert sanctions pressure and supply us with more weapons,” adding that Ukraine’s stance is a legitimate request from its people.
Zelenskiy, while aiming to advance President Trump’s peace initiative, also shared with European leaders that a “Plan B” would involve continuing to confront Russian aggression. He pointed out, “If the U.S. is ready to ensure Ukraine’s security and provide strong guarantees against potential violations by Putin, then it raises a question: how’s that different from a scenario where Putin is unwilling to halt the war?”
U.S. officials have largely sidestepped specifics regarding possible consequences if Russia does not agree to the U.S. plan, instead prioritizing peace negotiations with both Ukrainian and Russian representatives.
Trump has indicated that Ukraine must either accept the plan or “keep fighting,” though he did not clarify what actions would follow should the Kremlin reject the U.S. proposition.
Some analysts have suggested that the situation merits consideration since they doubt whether Putin genuinely seeks to conclude the war, particularly in exchange for all of Ukraine’s Donbass region. John Herbst, a director at the Atlantic Council and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, remarked that as U.S. representatives urge Ukraine to accept previously rejected Russian terms, the absence of significant concessions from Russia hampers the prospects for lasting peace.
This discussion unfolds as U.S. negotiators prepare to talk over a new draft of a 20-point peace plan with Russia, which opposes any international military efforts on the ground—a cornerstone of the security proposals deemed “platinum standard” by senior U.S. officials.
On Monday, U.S. officials mentioned that the plan seeks to provide Ukraine with “NATO-like” security to deter further Russian advances westward after the conflict ceases. This includes an international military presence to oversee the peace’s future, verify violations, and impose penalties as required.
A senior U.S. official noted Trump’s focus on concluding the conflict to prevent Russia from advancing further west, indicating that under previous administrations, Russia had been allowed to move freely.
Currently, both Britain and France have shown a willingness to deploy troops to assist international forces in Ukraine. While the U.S. will not send soldiers, Trump affirmed support for nations that do.
Conversely, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that the Kremlin would not agree to any deal involving foreign troops in Ukraine. He made it clear that regardless of their mission being under a European coalition, the presence of NATO troops is simply unacceptable.
Nevertheless, it appears that the proposed security arrangements are nearly finalized among the U.S., Ukraine, and European allies, as one senior U.S. official reported that detailed talks have occurred, leading to an agreement at the working level.
For now, Zelenskiy is set to engage with European leaders to explore potential security offerings. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have noted that presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will brief Russia on their latest proposals regarding Ukraine ahead of anticipated talks with Kiev in Miami this weekend.
