Washington [US], November 21: Ukraine will have to cede Donbass to Russia and limit the size of its army while getting European air protection under the new US peace plan.
AFP reported on November 20 that the 28-point peace plan supported by US President Donald Trump includes a provision that Ukraine cedes the Donbass region (Donetsk and Luhansk provinces) to Russia. Specifically, Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized by parties including the US as belonging to Russia. The areas in Donetsk that Ukraine has withdrawn from will be a demilitarized zone and Russian troops will not enter.
Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces, which Russia annexed in 2022 over Ukraine's objections, will be frozen along the front line,
In addition, Ukraine will agree to limit the size of its army to a maximum of 600,000 soldiers.
European fighters will be stationed in Poland to protect Ukraine . However, no NATO troops will be deployed on Ukrainian soil. Kyiv will also have to agree never to join NATO but will receive "reliable security guarantees", although they have not been specified.
The parties have not commented on this information.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the plan had been "quietly" worked on for a month by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Some reports said the plan was the result of secret discussions between Mr. Witkoff and Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
"It's still evolving and changing, but the president supports this plan. It's a plan that's good for both Russia and Ukraine. We believe it should be acceptable to both sides," Ms. Leavitt said, dismissing concerns that the plan overlapped with Russia's demands.
The plan was handed over to Ukraine by US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll during his visit to Kyiv on November 20.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would work with the US on the details. "Our team, Ukraine and the US, will work on the points of the plan to end the war. We are ready to work constructively, honestly and quickly," Mr Zelensky wrote on social media.
The Ukrainian president's office did not elaborate on the content but said Mr. Zelensky outlined important ground rules for Ukrainian officials. "In the coming days, the President of Ukraine plans to discuss with President Trump the existing diplomatic opportunities and the key points to achieving peace," the office said.
Source: Thanh Nieu Newspaper
