Trump’s “final proposal” for a ceasefire in Ukraine

Washington expects a response from Kyiv by the end of the day regarding a peace plan that includes, among other things, de facto recognition of Russia’s control over nearly all the territories it has occupied since the start of the war in February 2022, and de jure recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea.

The plan also includes Ukraine’s commitment to not joining NATO, according to the one-page “final offer” from President Trump, Axios reports. The White House has stated it is ready to withdraw immediately from peace talks if the two sides do not reach an agreement soon.

Trump’s proposal requires significant concessions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had previously ruled out accepting Russian occupation of Crimea and parts of four eastern Ukrainian regions.

In contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to “freeze” current front-line positions to reach an agreement but has rejected other aspects of the plan, such as the deployment of a European peacekeeping force on Ukrainian territory.

The term “de jure” means “by law” and is often used in contrast to “de facto,” which means “in practice.”

What Russia gets:

• “De jure” recognition from the U.S. of Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea.
• “De facto recognition” of Russia’s control over nearly all of the Luhansk region and the occupied parts of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
• A promise that Ukraine will not join NATO. However, Ukraine could become a member of the European Union.
• The lifting of sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014.
• Strengthened economic cooperation with the U.S., particularly in the energy and industrial sectors.

What Ukraine gets:

• “Security guarantees,” with participation from countries in Europe and beyond, but without clarity on the functioning of peacekeeping forces or whether the U.S. will be involved.
• The return of a small part of the Kharkiv region occupied by Russia.
• Unrestricted movement on the Dnieper River, which runs along the front line in parts of southern Ukraine.
• Compensation and aid for reconstruction, although the plan does not specify the source of funding.