White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that the United States has prepared a detailed peace proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, a plan Washington claims is acceptable to both Moscow and Kyiv.

According to Leavitt, the initiative—developed over the past month by US special envoy Steve Witkoff—seeks to outline conditions both sides may be willing to accept in pursuit of a “durable and lasting peace.” A senior US official said Witkoff has held discreet consultations with Ukrainian and Russian figures, emphasizing that the framework requires concessions from both sides, “not Ukraine alone.” The official added that President Donald Trump has already reviewed and approved the draft.

US media outlets including Axios, NBC News, Politico, and Reuters reported this week that the proposal consists of a 28-point framework that envisions significant concessions by Kyiv. According to the reports, the plan would require Ukraine to recognize Russia’s full control over the Donbas, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions, as well as Moscow’s authority over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. It may also oblige Kyiv to scale back its long-range weapons capabilities and reduce the size of its armed forces.

In exchange, Washington would reportedly extend security guarantees aimed at preventing further Russian advances and establishing what US officials describe as the foundation for a long-term peace.

The plan has already provoked alarm among some US allies and Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian officials say they were not consulted in shaping the details and oppose several of the proposed concessions. European governments have also warned that any peace initiative must fully involve Kyiv and EU partners, noting that Russia’s own concessions remain undefined.

Reports indicate that Qatar and Turkey have assisted in the mediation effort, and that Witkoff has held discussions with both Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Ukrainian National Security Advisor Rustem Umerov. Despite these contacts, Moscow has publicly denied receiving any formal proposal from Washington.

Leavitt also confirmed that the United States will not attend the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg. Only the US chargé d'affaires in Pretoria will be present for the handover ceremony, which Washington described as a procedural necessity.

The announcement comes amid ongoing controversy over President Trump’s earlier decision to boycott the summit entirely. On November 8, Trump declared that neither he nor any US officials would take part, citing disproven allegations that white South Africans are being “murdered and oppressed.” South African courts, rights groups, and international observers have repeatedly dismissed these claims as baseless.

The South African government responded sharply, calling Trump’s remarks “unsupported” and “politically motivated.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday that Pretoria is still communicating with Washington regarding the possibility of some form of US involvement despite Trump’s order. Speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, Ramaphosa noted:

“We have received notice from the United States… about a change of mind about participating in one shape, form or other in the Summit.”

Ramaphosa has repeatedly criticized the boycott, calling it counterproductive and accusing Trump of reviving long-disproven racial conspiracy theories. On November 13, he said the move “doesn’t work” and warned that Washington was undermining its own global influence by refusing to attend the first G20 summit hosted on African soil.

He added that South Africa will consider what forms of participation, if any, might still be possible for US representatives, while stressing that the summit will proceed as planned regardless of Washington’s position. (ILKHA)