Global stakes soar as Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow confront a defining moment in high-tension peace diplomacy.
Amid escalating friction between Washington and Kyiv over President Donald Trump’s proposed 28-point peace plan, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday delivered a striking public signal: Moscow views the U.S. proposal as a potential foundation for ending the war that has consumed Eastern Europe since 2022.
Speaking in a televised address, Putin confirmed that Russia had formally received the American proposal and stated bluntly, “I believe that it can be used as the basis for a final peaceful settlement.” He added that U.S. negotiators in Anchorage, Alaska, urged both sides to demonstrate “compromise” and “flexibility,” and claimed that Russia had agreed to the framework “despite certain complex issues and difficulties.”
Putin’s remarks were calibrated with both openness and threat. While expressing readiness to negotiate, he warned that if President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the plan, Ukraine and its European backers should expect renewed battlefield escalation. Citing recent developments in Kupiansk, he cautioned, “This situation is acceptable to us,” implying Moscow’s willingness to intensify operations if diplomacy stalls.
The comments arrive at a time when Kyiv has openly voiced discomfort with several provisions of Trump’s plan, which it believes tilt toward Moscow’s core demands. Yet Zelensky’s response—delivered in a sober televised appearance—captured the gravity of Ukraine’s dilemma.
“Ukraine may face a very difficult choice — either losing dignity or risking the loss of a major partner,” he said. While stopping short of rejecting the proposal, Zelensky noted, “We value the efforts of the United States, President Trump, and his team aimed at ending this war. This must be a plan that ensures a real and dignified peace.”
Under the current timeline, Kyiv has one week to review the 28-point plan and submit its decision, with Trump setting Thursday as the final deadline. The coming days now represent one of the most consequential diplomatic countdowns since the conflict began.
