The White House has defended a U.S. peace plan backed by President Donald Trump to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, describing it as “good for both sides” despite criticism that it mirrors many of Moscow’s demands.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been working quietly on the proposal for a month. “It’s ongoing and it’s in flux, but the president supports this plan. It’s a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides,” she told reporters Thursday.
In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted any deal must deliver a “dignified peace” that respects Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty. His office confirmed he expects to discuss the plan directly with Trump in the coming days.
Battlefield Claims
Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have recaptured Kupiansk, a key city in eastern Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin visited an army command post. Ukraine’s military denied the claim, saying Kupiansk remains under Kyiv’s control.
What’s in the U.S. Plan?
Western media reports suggest the plan contains 28 points, including:
- Recognition of Crimea and other territories seized by Russia.
- A freeze of the front line in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, if Ukraine withdraws from Donetsk and Lugansk.
- No clear guarantees for Ukraine in return.
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including five regions it claims to have annexed: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson (2022) and Crimea (2014).
Ukraine has repeatedly vowed never to recognize Russian control, though Zelensky has acknowledged diplomacy may be the only path to reclaiming lost land. “It is a matter of our country’s survival,” he said recently.
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