- December 9, 2025
- 12:25 pm
- Ukraine
In recent weeks, a new political turbulence has unfolded in Washington around the Ukrainian dossier. American media and Ukrainian sources are increasingly discussing the so-called “peace plan” prepared by a group close to Donald Trump to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Its details have not been officially published, but a series of leaks and expert comments form a picture that causes serious concern in Kyiv and provokes sharp reactions in European capitals.
According to journalists, the draft document includes provisions that essentially repeat Russian terms of capitulation: from recognizing the existing line of occupation to possibly fixing Russian control over Crimea and parts of Donbas. In Kyiv and Brussels, this is called nothing less than a “deal with the devil” — a formula that turns Ukraine’s territorial integrity into a bargaining chip.
Who is behind the initiative
The central figures around the document are former White House advisor Jared Kushner and businessman Steve Witkoff, who have entered Trump’s new close orbit. They are working on a project of 28 points, which are positioned as a “realistic path to peace.” However, not everyone sees realism in this approach.
Ukrainian experts emphasize: the very fact that proposals are being formed without Ukraine’s participation and bypassing European allies already casts doubt on the possibility of a fair settlement. Kyiv has repeatedly emphasized that any negotiations are impossible without the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of sovereignty over occupied territories.
In Washington, however, an influential group views Russia not as an aggressor, but as a “strong player” with whom Trump finds it “easier to negotiate” than with the European Union. This approach has already become part of the political rhetoric within the USA and could radically change the architecture of Western support for Ukraine.
Why this plan is dangerous
If such ideas become the official position of the American administration, the consequences will be colossal.
- Firstly, it effectively legitimizes Russian seizures, which would completely destroy the system of international law established after World War II.
- Secondly, such a step creates a dangerous precedent: any authoritarian regime could use force to change borders, counting on world powers eventually recognizing the “new reality.”
- Thirdly, Ukraine would face the threat of losing part of its territory without security guarantees. After 2014 and especially after the full-scale invasion, it became clear that the Kremlin uses any concessions as a pause before the next attack.
Moreover, concessions to Russia without Ukraine’s consent could destroy the trust between Kyiv and the USA — a strategic partnership that has been a key factor in Ukraine’s defense for three years.
Ukraine’s position: no deals at the expense of sovereignty
The Ukrainian leadership emphasizes: talks about trading territories are unacceptable. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that the only path to peace is de-occupation, security, and justice.
Representatives of Ukrainian diplomacy emphasize that any “alternative plans” proposing a freeze of the conflict on Moscow’s terms are equivalent to a new war in the future.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the Ukrainian side takes a tough stance: no external forces can decide the fate of Ukrainian territories without Ukraine’s consent. And this position receives support from Kyiv’s key allies in Europe.
How Europe reacts
In Brussels, Berlin, Paris, and Warsaw, Trump’s initiatives are met with open caution. European politicians clearly indicate: any agreements behind the EU’s back will be perceived as a violation of collective security principles.
The reason is simple: Europe lives a few hundred kilometers away from the Russian army and understands perfectly well that concessions to the aggressor are not “peace,” but an invitation to new wars. Politicians in the EU emphasize that support for Ukraine is based not on emotions, but on the understanding that Kyiv’s defeat means the destruction of all of Europe’s security.
Moreover, the EU points to another problem: if the USA leans towards deals with Moscow, Europe will have to take on a larger share of defense and economic support for Ukraine. This changes the balance of power within NATO and could lead to increased tensions among allies.
Why the topic is important for Israel
Although the document formally concerns the Ukrainian-Russian war, its consequences also affect the Middle East. Israel, as a state living under constant threat of missile attacks and aggression from hostile regimes, understands well the cost of concessions to terrorist actors and aggressor states.
Any recognition of border changes by force creates a dangerous precedent that Iran and its proxies might try to use in the region. For Israel, the issue is fundamental: international law either works for everyone or does not work at all.
It is no coincidence that many analysts emphasize: the interests of Ukraine and Israel in matters of security and international law converge. And if Ukraine finds itself under pressure regarding territorial concessions, it will be a worrying signal for Israel’s regional partners as well.
What will happen next
At the moment, Trump’s “peace plan” remains an unofficial document, but the discussion around it is real and continues to expand.
Kyiv is trying to act on three fronts:
strengthening work with Congress and the current US administration;
strengthening ties with the European Union;
forming a global coalition of countries supporting the principle of territorial integrity.
European leaders, according to media reports, are preparing a joint diplomatic line to be announced at future summits. Their task is to prevent Ukraine from becoming an object of pressure in favor of the Putin regime.
In these conditions, Ukraine has to act as carefully as possible: strengthening ties with Europe, maintaining a strategic dialogue with the USA, and simultaneously explaining why any attempts to trade territories lead to new wars, not peace. For the Israeli audience, this logic is also understandable — concessions to the aggressor always return with an even more serious threat. That is why we will continue to monitor the development of the situation and how Washington’s position will change in the coming months, as stable international alliances are important today not only for Kyiv but also for Jerusalem. We will be detailing this on НАновости — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, where security and international politics remain at the forefront.
