Leaked U.S. Strategy Indicates Possible Territorial Concessions by Ukraine to Russia

A 28-point peace plan backed by U.S. President Donald Trump is beginning to come into public view, revealing significant and controversial proposals aimed at ending Russia’s four-year war on Ukraine. Although the plan has not yet been officially published, emerging reports from multiple international media outlets and statements from officials indicate that the draft appears to be tilted in Russia’s favour. These revelations have sparked international discussion and raised concerns about the concessions Ukraine may be asked to make in the pursuit of peace.

According to Russia’s state news agency RIA, the Kremlin stated on Friday that it has not been informed about Ukraine’s readiness to enter negotiations based on this plan. The disclosure came shortly after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, addressed the UN Security Council. Waltz stated that the United States had put forward “generous terms for Russia, including sanctions relief,” signalling that Washington was willing to offer substantial incentives to Moscow in exchange for ending the conflict. Waltz also emphasized that the U.S. President had personally invested significant effort into resolving the ongoing war.

Even as diplomatic maneuvering unfolds, fighting on the ground has continued without pause. Russian forces launched a deadly strike on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia late Thursday, killing five civilians and injuring three others, according to emergency services. Russia has been steadily gaining territory in the broader Zaporizhia region, which is strategically important due to its location along both banks of the Dnipro River.

Multiple news agencies, including AFP and Axios, have reported key details of the peace plan. According to AFP, the document is currently regarded by the U.S. as a “working document,” meaning it is still subject to revision. Nonetheless, its present form includes several major provisions that could reshape territorial control in the region. One of the most significant elements is the proposal that Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk be recognized as de facto Russian territories—an acknowledgment that would extend even to the United States, according to the reports.

This aligns with earlier reporting from Axios, which suggested that the plan expects Ukraine to formally concede the entire Donbas region to Russia. The Donbas includes the Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, parts of which Ukraine still controls. However, the proposal would grant Moscow full authority over the entire region, even though approximately 14 percent remains under Ukrainian control. The Associated Press confirmed these details, noting that such territorial concessions would represent a profound shift in Ukraine’s wartime position and sovereignty.

Another notable requirement in the draft is a reduction of Ukraine’s military size. Both AFP and AP reported that the peace plan includes a provision limiting Ukraine’s armed forces to 600,000 troops. Current estimates suggest Ukraine has nearly 900,000 active-duty personnel, meaning the plan would mandate a significant reduction in military capability.

Together, the emerging details of the draft peace plan suggest a framework heavily shaped by concessions to Russia, raising questions about how such terms would be received by Ukraine, its allies, and the international community as efforts to end the war continue.