The deadline for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s response to the U.S.-proposed peace plan is set for Thursday, and things have been a bit chaotic lately. President Donald Trump mentioned last week that Zelenskiy had until Thanksgiving to make his decision on the proposal. However, both Ukrainian and U.S. mediators have made significant changes to the plan before it was shared with Russia. Since then, leaks and debates about the deal’s terms and its background have surfaced, leading to some pushback from Congress and allies in Europe.
There are concerns regarding U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who supposedly advised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign aide, Yuri Ushakov, on how to present the peace deal to Trump. A phone conversation transcript reviewed by Bloomberg highlighted this interaction as a troubling factor in the peace negotiations.
In that discussion, Witkoff allegedly stated, “We have put together President Trump’s 20-point plan for peace, and we are probably thinking of doing the same for you.”
On Tuesday, Trump came to Witkoff’s defense, asserting that it’s typical for diplomats to promote negotiations to parties involved. “That’s what dealmakers do,” he remarked.
According to Bloomberg, Witkoff’s call could offer insight into the negotiations with Russia and the origins of the 28-point peace proposal that emerged earlier this month. Ushakov claimed that the leaked calls were intended to disrupt ongoing peace talks, labeling the situation as “unacceptable,” and insinuated that some of the leaked information was false.
The Department of Justice has not commented on whether there would be any legal action against those who leaked the phone conversations.
George Beebe, director of grand strategy at the Quincy Institute for Responsible State Strategy, mentioned that what was discussed in the call was not unusual for diplomatic discussions. He emphasized that their role involves figuring out how to strike a deal that’s acceptable for everyone.
The Nov. 20 leaked agreement involves substantial concessions from Ukraine, including the forfeiture of territory not yet under Russian control and a reduction of military forces. In return, the U.S. would offer NATO-style security, classifying any new Russian attack on Ukraine as an aggression against the “Transatlantic Community,” which would effectively terminate the agreement.
The plan would also relax sanctions on Russia and address long-standing demands from Putin, like halting NATO expansion and preventing any NATO troops from being stationed in Ukraine.
U.S. officials mentioned that if President Zelenskiy did not agree to the deal, intelligence sharing and arms transfers to Ukraine might be suspended. This aspect has sparked significant controversy among European allies, who view the terms as a heavy concession from Ukraine. Despite Zelenskiy’s expressed willingness to collaborate, unrest lingered throughout the week. Witkoff attempted to reassure European partners that the plan was still flexible and that their viewpoints would be considered.
Nonetheless, difficulties continue to arise, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly voicing concerns about the proposal. During a bipartisan meeting at the Halifax International Security Forum, Rubio suggested that the leaked terms probably came from Russia rather than being negotiated by the U.S.
Beebe noted that Russia has made concessions it wouldn’t have considered back in 2014, following its invasion of Crimea. He pointed out that Russia’s current stance is, “We oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership and any NATO military presence in the country, but we are not against Ukraine being politically and economically aligned with the West.” This represents a notable shift.
However, both the State Department and Rubio denied the claims about the conversation, asserting that the plan originated in the U.S. with contributions from both Russians and Ukrainians.
Zelenskiy, in a video statement last Friday, remarked that the U.S. was putting Ukraine in a position where it had to choose between sacrificing its dignity or risking losing a crucial partner.
Reports from U.S. officials indicate that Ukraine generally agrees with the proposed agreement, with only a few points left in contention. Trump echoed this sentiment in a post on Truth Social, stating that the initial 28-point peace plan had undergone revisions with input from both parties, with only minor differences remaining. He also mentioned that Witkoff would meet with Putin in Moscow while Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll would engage with the Ukrainian side simultaneously.
The White House has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the situation.
