The United States has drafted a new peace framework aimed at ending the Russia–Ukraine war, with President Donald Trump formally approving the initiative, according to American and European officials familiar with the matter.

The plan, which has been under discreet development for weeks, remains in flux as Washington continues parallel discussions with both Moscow and Kyiv.

NBC News and Politico reported that the renewed diplomatic push reflects Washington’s effort to reassert global influence following Trump’s return to the White House. The proposal was shaped with input from Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and adviser Steve Witkoff. U.S. officials reportedly coordinated elements of the plan with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriyev while maintaining dialogue with Ukrainian representatives.

According to Politico, the emerging framework includes provisions for long-term security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine but may require “significant concessions” from Kyiv, including restrictions on Ukraine’s future military capabilities and conditions tied to disputed territories in the east.

A White House official told Reuters that a preliminary agreement could potentially be reached by the end of the month, though major disagreements persist. Ukrainian officials confirmed receiving new U.S. proposals, which coincide with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and upcoming consultations with American military officials in Kyiv.

Direct peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow have been stalled since July, when the last round of talks was held in Istanbul. Nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, fighting continues along the eastern front.

Turkey — one of the few NATO states maintaining dialogue with both warring sides — mediated early negotiations in 2022, but no similar sessions have taken place since. Analysts suggest the U.S. is now attempting to fill the diplomatic vacuum left by Europe’s internal divisions and the stalemate on the battlefield.

The most contentious issue in the draft framework concerns the future status of eastern Ukrainian territories. Despite recent gains, Russia controls only a fraction of what it initially sought and continues to insist that Ukraine abandon aspirations to join Western security alliances — a demand Kyiv rejects as a violation of its sovereignty.

U.S. officials told Reuters that territorial arrangements remain “unsettled,” underscoring that the proposal is still far from complete. European governments have raised concerns following leaks of early drafts, fearing Washington’s approach might pressure Ukraine into accepting terms detrimental to its long-term security.

American officials stress that the document is an evolving framework rather than a final peace agreement. “Multiple components are still changing,” Politico quoted U.S. and European diplomats as saying, adding that any lasting deal would require direct talks between Ukraine and Russia — a step neither side has taken since mid-2025.

Despite continued uncertainty, Washington hopes the developing plan could serve as a foundation for broader negotiations aimed at halting the conflict and paving the way for a durable settlement. (ILKHA)