When you’re not on the desk you then’re on the menu, because the saying goes.
That is why Ukraine and Europe are so involved about studies of a brand new peace plan being drawn up with out them.
Their fears look like well-founded. The plan’s proposals reportedly embrace two main concessions for Kyiv – that it should hand over territory within the Donbas which Russia has not but seized, and that it should dramatically scale back its armed forces.
Ukraine battle newest: Trump ‘approves 28-point Ukraine peace plan’
Sound acquainted? That is as a result of it’s. These are two of Vladimir Putin’s long-held, key calls for for peace.
The ‘new’ peace plan represents the most recent about-turn from the Trump administration on the way it approaches the battle.
After the failure of the Alaska summit, and final month’s fractious cellphone name between Russian overseas minister Sergei Lavrov and US secretary of state Marco Rubio (which led to the cancellation of a second summit in Budapest and US sanctions on Russian oil), it appeared like Ukraine had lastly satisfied Donald Trump to vary tack.
Picture:
Donald Trump assembly Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August. Pic: AP
As an alternative of exhibiting Moscow endurance, he started making use of strain within the hope of forcing Russia to make concessions and to fulfill Ukraine someplace within the center.
However now it is all change as soon as once more.
The important thing participant appears to have been Kirill Dmitriev – the Kremlin’s funding envoy and an in depth ally of Vladimir Putin – who has operated as Steve Witkoff’s reverse quantity in peace negotiations.
Picture:
(l-r) Kirill Dmitriev and particular envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg in April 2025. Pic: Kremlin Pool Picture/AP
At any time when the US particular envoy has been in Moscow this yr, Dmitriev has all the time been shut by. He’s Putin’s Witkoff whisperer.
After the Lavrov-Rubio bust-up, Dmitriev was despatched to Miami to supposedly patch issues up by way of Witkoff. He did greater than, it appears.
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Cheat Sheet: Russian spy ship and secret Ukraine peace deal
What’s reportedly emerged from their discussions is a 28-point peace plan that has been signed off by Donald Trump.
Will Ukraine go for it? I very a lot doubt it.
If the studies are appropriate, the US-Russia proposals merely characterize the Kremlin’s long-held calls for, and Ukraine’s long-held pink traces. For Kyiv, it is a non-starter.
However President Zelenskyy must tread fastidiously. Failure to point out engagement might rile Donald Trump and set off an ultimatum – settle for this plan otherwise you’re by yourself.
