The Trump administration is advancing a 28-point peace plan aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a move that has surprised many supporters of Ukraine in Congress. The plan was developed by U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff in collaboration with Kirill Dmitriev, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and was discussed with a limited group of senior Ukrainian officials.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova indicated that the ministry had not received any official communication from the U.S. regarding agreements on Ukraine. Many U.S. lawmakers, including prominent supporters of Ukraine, expressed their lack of awareness about the plan. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) acknowledged the necessity of a plan but stressed that it should be backed by strong U.S. military commitments to Ukraine and measures to limit funding for Russia's military efforts.

Details of the plan suggest that Ukraine would need to relinquish full control of the eastern Donbas region to Russia, despite currently holding about 12 percent of that territory. The proposal also calls for a significant reduction in Ukraine's armed forces and imposes restrictions on its military capabilities, including limiting U.S. military assistance and barring foreign troops from Ukrainian territory.

Additionally, the plan includes provisions for recognizing Russian as an official state language in Ukraine and granting official status to the local branch of the Russian Orthodox Church, which Ukraine accuses of supporting the Kremlin's agenda. Many of these conditions are viewed as unacceptable by Ukrainian officials, who argue that ceding territory would only invite further aggression from Russia.

The timing of the plan's introduction has drawn criticism, particularly following a recent Russian missile strike in Ternopil, Ukraine, which resulted in civilian casualties. Ukrainian civil society leaders have expressed outrage at the perceived pressure on Ukraine to accept terms that could undermine its sovereignty and security.

In response to the plan, advocates for Ukraine have reiterated that any sustainable peace must involve a militarily strong Ukraine and assurances that Russia will not resume hostilities. Senator Graham is also promoting a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting entities that support Russia's military efforts, although the path to its passage remains uncertain amid calls for immediate action from various lawmakers.

The proposal has been characterized by observers as presenting Russian demands as a peace initiative, echoing conditions initially set forth by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Analysts suggest that the plan would require Ukraine to cede control of the Donbas region, territory that has been fiercely defended by Ukrainian forces at a significant human cost. Current military assessments indicate that it would take Russia several years to capture this territory through military means, yet the proposal suggests Ukraine should relinquish it.

The origins of the proposal remain uncertain, with speculation about whether it reflects Donald Trump's inflated confidence in his diplomatic capabilities. Concerns have been raised that Trump's administration may be seeking to distance itself from the conflict, potentially attributing any failure in diplomacy to Ukrainian resistance. Trump's previous actions, including halting financial support for Ukraine and opting to sell arms to European nations for distribution to Ukraine, have raised alarms about the potential consequences for Ukraine's ability to respond to ongoing attacks that have resulted in civilian casualties. Consequently, both Europe and Ukraine may feel compelled to engage with the proposal, hoping to influence Trump to shift his stance and apply pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek a resolution to the conflict, rather than compelling Ukraine to capitulate.