Negotiations in Geneva are underway between U.S. and Ukrainian officials after a draft peace proposal for the Russia-Ukraine war was leaked and confirmed by the Trump administration. The document was reportedly prepared by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in conjunction with Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian businessman and adviser to President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainians say the plan was negotiated without their input and appears to tilt heavily toward Russian demands.
Under the draft, Ukraine would surrender control of fortified areas in the Donbas, restrict its military capabilities and weapons, and formally renounce any future bid to join NATO. The proposal includes no penalties for Moscow; instead it envisions lifting sanctions and reintegrating Russia into international institutions. It even contemplates a U.S.-Russian Arctic exploration agreement that could create business opportunities for both sides.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces intense domestic pressure. His public standing has been weakened by a corruption scandal involving senior ministers, a vulnerability Ukrainians say has made the government more exposed in high-stakes bargaining. Zelenskyy acknowledged the difficulty of the moment and described the choice as one between preserving dignity and losing a key partner.
Reaction across Ukraine has been anguished and angry. In Ternopil, a western city struck by Russian missiles the same week the plan surfaced, more than 30 people were killed when a residential building was hit. Reporters described devastated apartment blocks, recovery crews at work, memorial candles and fresh grief. Many residents said the draft deal feels like capitulation.
Kateryna Rushkov, a mother of two who sheltered through hours of bombardment, said the losses—especially of children—make any concession unbearable. Gym instructor Inga Shkarupa said it seems as if Russia is being treated like the victim while Ukrainians bear the cost, and she urged Zelenskyy not to sign the agreement.
European leaders reacted with dismay and alarm, seeing Ukraine as a frontline buffer for the continent. Officials have publicly called for revisions but appear cautious about directly confronting the U.S. administration. President Trump reportedly gave Zelenskyy a deadline to respond and warned that if Ukraine refuses, “then he can continue to fight his little heart out.”
With fresh attacks on the ground and political strains at home, the leaked proposal has deepened fear and frustration across Ukraine as leaders weigh an offer many view as heavily biased toward Russia.