Report: Trump Plan Removes Ukraine from NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hoped to discuss the plan with Trump "in the coming days," and added that any deal should lead to a "dignified peace" while "respecting our independence and our sovereignty."

The cautious response from the Ukrainian presidential administration contrasted with the anger at the plan from some Ukrainian officials, who called it "absurd," "surrender," and the de facto end of Ukraine's existence as an independent country.

The plan appears to reiterate Moscow's maximalist demands and violate several of Ukraine's red lines, requiring a change of stance from Zelenskyy, who has stated that ceding territory will not be acceptable. It will also be unpalatable to Ukraine's European partners, who have long insisted on being given a role in the peace negotiations, as the agreement will have a major impact on the continent's security, especially NATO's eastern flank.

The plan was reportedly drafted by Russian and US officials, including Kirill Dmitriev, the influential head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, who has been involved in previous talks on Ukraine and is believed to be in touch with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt told reporters, "The president supports this plan. It's a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine."

Levitt said that Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been "quietly" working on the plan with both Russia and Ukraine for about a month. She dismissed concerns that the plan resembles many of Moscow's maximalist demands.

So what's in the 28-point plan?

Territory

According to a draft seen by several outlets, Ukraine will cede the Donbas region to Russia, which matches Moscow's previous demands.

The plan states, “Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk will be considered de facto part of Russia, including by the United States.” Kyiv still holds parts of Luhansk and Donetsk, which together form the Donbas Industrial Belt on the frontline of the war. Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014.

According to the plan, the areas of Donetsk that Ukraine has withdrawn from will be considered a demilitarized zone, where Russian troops will not be able to enter.