US peace plan requiring Ukraine to give up Donbas region described as 'good' by White House

A US PLAN backed by President Donald Trump to end Russia’s war in Ukraine is “good” for both sides, the White House said Thursday, rejecting concerns that it echoes many of Moscow’s demands.

Ukraine would give up the eastern Donbas region, which comprises the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that Ukraine currently holds, under the 28-point peace plan, according to a draft.

Ukraine would also agree to limit its army to 600,000 personnel. European fighter jets would be based in Poland to protect Ukraine, but no NATO troops would be stationed in Ukraine and Kyiv would agree never to join the military alliance, according to the plan

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been “quietly” working on the plan for a month, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“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 a briefing.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted today that any deal to end Russia’s invasion must bring a “dignified peace”, after meeting a high-level official from the United States.

“Ukraine needs peace… A dignified peace — so that the conditions are with respect for our independence, our sovereignty and the dignity of the Ukrainian people,” Zelensky said in his nightly address, after meeting a Pentagon delegation headed by US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll in Kyiv.

Leavitt declined to give details of the proposal but denied that it would be unfavorable to Ukraine.

Rubio and Witkoff had met Ukrainian representatives in the last week, she said.

Trump had become “increasingly frustrated” with both sides but was committed to ending the war, she said. The Republican promised to end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office in January.

“I know there’s a lot of criticism out there and a lot of doubters, but I would just remind you of the historic success that this president and his team accomplished in the Middle East,” she said, referring to the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

“We believe that is possible with Russia and Ukraine and we’re hoping and working very hard to achieve that,” she said.