Saturday, November 22, 2025 - Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered a new address to members of his security council, confirming Moscow’s support for what he called a “modernised version” of the peace proposals presented earlier this year by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Kremlin has now signalled its readiness to adopt the updated American framework as the basis for a potential settlement to the Russia–Ukraine war.
Putin reminded his council that Washington had raised the
issue during their discussions in Alaska, and said that Russia had already
demonstrated “flexibility” and “compromise” despite what he described as
difficult demands. According to him, the United States had since returned with
a substantially expanded version of the deal, now containing 28 points, which
he said could realistically guide an eventual peace agreement. He confirmed
that Moscow had received the document and was prepared to treat it as a workable
foundation for negotiations.
The Ukrainian government maintains a sharply different
position. President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has spent the last 48 hours in
high-level calls with NATO, European leaders and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, warned
that Ukraine was living through “one of the most difficult moments” in its
statehood and rejected any suggestion that Ukraine should “betray its own
country.” Kyiv continues to insist that its territorial integrity cannot be the
subject of negotiation.
The latest development comes after days of speculation about
U.S. proposals offering a vast reconstruction package for Ukraine in exchange
for territorial concessions and an immediate ceasefire. Trump’s plan reportedly
includes a requirement that billions in frozen Russian assets be redirected
into Ukraine’s post-war rebuilding, an idea the Kremlin has signalled it
may accept under the right conditions.
Downing Street meanwhile confirmed that Zelensky, UK Prime
Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and other European leaders held an urgent round of
coordinated diplomacy, agreeing to intensify consultations with the U.S. “in
the coming days.” British officials said the leaders reiterated support for “a
just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” adding that any settlement “must fully
involve Ukraine and preserve its sovereignty.”
Sources familiar with the U.S. document said the American
proposal opens by reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty while simultaneously
requiring both Russia and Ukraine to enter into what is described as a
comprehensive, long-term non-aggression framework with Europe and the United
States. The language asserts that all ambiguities left unresolved during the
past three decades of post-Soviet relations would be considered settled once
the agreement takes effect.
Within the text, Russia would formally pledge not to invade
any neighbouring country. Conversely, NATO would undertake not to expand
further eastward, while the United States would moderate a dedicated dialogue
between Russia and the alliance designed to calm long-standing security
disputes and create what Washington calls a “stable, de-escalatory environment”
in Europe. In exchange, Ukraine would receive extensive security guarantees,
though its armed forces would be capped at a maximum of 600,000 personnel.
Ukraine would also be required to amend its constitution to
permanently exclude NATO membership, while NATO itself would formally declare
that Ukraine will not be admitted now or in the future. No NATO troops would be
stationed on Ukrainian soil under any circumstances, though European fighter
jets would be based in Poland as part of a wider deterrence structure.
The American guarantee to Ukraine, which forms one of the
plan’s more controversial sections, states that the U.S. would be financially
compensated for providing its security umbrella. Under the arrangement, Ukraine
would automatically lose that guarantee if it launched any military action
inside Russia, while a Russian invasion of Ukraine would trigger the immediate
reinstatement of all global sanctions and the withdrawal of every political or
economic concession Russia would otherwise receive under the deal. A missile
strike by Ukraine on Moscow or Saint Petersburg would fully void the entire
guarantee.
The proposal acknowledges Ukraine’s potential path into the
European Union and promises short-term preferential access to EU markets while
membership is being considered. It also outlines a massive redevelopment
programme for Ukraine, including the establishment of a Ukraine Development
Fund intended to channel investment into sectors such as technology, artificial
intelligence, energy infrastructure and large-scale reconstruction of damaged
cities. The World Bank would coordinate a financing mechanism to accelerate
these efforts, while the United States would partner with Ukraine to jointly
operate the country’s energy infrastructure—particularly gas pipelines and
storage facilities.
In return, Russia would receive phased sanctions relief and
be gradually reintegrated into the global economy. The plan envisions a new
U.S.–Russia economic partnership targeting energy, the Arctic, rare-earth
minerals, artificial intelligence, infrastructure and data-center development.
Moscow would also be invited back into what was formerly the G8, restoring its
seat among the world’s major industrial powers.
One of the most contentious components deals with frozen
Russian assets. According to the document, $100 billion from these assets would
be channelled into a U.S.-led reconstruction initiative for Ukraine, with the
United States receiving 50 per cent of profits from the associated investment
projects. European governments would match the $100 billion with their own
contribution. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds would be placed into a
joint U.S.–Russian investment vehicle intended to incentivise long-term
cooperation between the two countries.
A joint U.S.–Russia security task force would be created to
enforce the terms of the agreement. Simultaneously, Russia would pass domestic
laws formally declaring a national non-aggression policy toward both Europe and
Ukraine. Washington and Moscow would also extend nuclear arms-control treaties
such as START, while Ukraine would reaffirm its non-nuclear status under the
Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The plan details the future of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear
Power Plant, which would be restarted under direct supervision of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, with electricity output divided evenly
between Russia and Ukraine.
The document also emphasizes social and humanitarian
reforms. It requires both Russia and Ukraine to implement nationwide education
programmes promoting cultural tolerance and eliminating racist or extremist
ideology. Ukraine would specifically commit to EU-standard protections for
religious and linguistic minorities. Both governments would repeal
discriminatory policies affecting media, language, and education, and all forms
of Nazi ideology would be explicitly outlawed.
The section on territory states that Crimea, Luhansk and
Donetsk would be recognised in practice as Russian, including by the United
States. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia would remain frozen along existing frontlines,
amounting to de facto recognition of Russian control in those areas. Russia
would relinquish certain other areas it occupies outside the specified regions,
while Ukrainian forces would withdraw from the remaining parts of Donetsk they
still control. That withdrawn territory would become a demilitarised buffer
zone acknowledged internationally as belonging to the Russian Federation,
though Russian troops would not enter it.
Both Ukraine and Russia would commit not to change
territorial arrangements by force, and Ukraine’s security guarantees would not
apply if it violated this clause. Russia would also agree not to interfere with
Ukraine’s use of the Dnieper River for commercial purposes, including grain
shipments through the Black Sea.
A humanitarian committee would oversee a full exchange of
all prisoners and civilian detainees, ensure the return of all abducted
children, organise family reunification programmes and address the needs of
victims of the conflict.
The proposal requires Ukraine to hold national elections
within 100 days of signing, while all wartime actions, and grievances
arising from them, would be covered by a comprehensive amnesty binding on
both sides. Implementation of the entire agreement would be monitored by a new
international body referred to as the “Board of Peace,” chaired by former U.S.
President Donald J. Trump, which would also impose penalties for violations.
The ceasefire would take effect immediately after both armies withdraw to the
designated positions described in the text.
Experts warn that the plan, while detailed, contains
significant concessions that Kyiv has repeatedly described as unacceptable.
Analysts at Chatham House said the $100 billion reconstruction package funded
by frozen Russian assets is likely to be viewed in Washington as a strategic
incentive for U.S. involvement, but would constitute an enormous diplomatic
victory for the Kremlin if implemented.
As Putin embraces the proposal and Trump prepares to push it
internationally, the coming weeks may determine whether the plan becomes a
historic settlement or remains another unrealised diplomatic blueprint.
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