U.S. Presses Ukraine to Consider Draft Peace Framework Amid Growing War Pressures

The United States has reportedly urged President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to consider a U.S.-drafted framework aimed at ending the war with Russia, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The proposal, which Ukraine did not help craft, allegedly includes concessions such as reducing the size of Ukraine’s armed forces, ceding some territory, and agreeing to limits on certain weapons capabilities. Washington is pushing Kyiv to accept the plan’s core points as the conflict nears its fourth year.

If adopted, the framework would mark a significant setback for Ukraine, which is facing renewed Russian advances in the east alongside growing political turmoil at home. Zelenskiy is currently managing a corruption scandal that led to the dismissal of Ukraine’s energy and justice ministers. Despite the pressure, both the White House and the U.S. State Department declined to comment on the reported proposals.

A senior Ukrainian official acknowledged that Kyiv had received “signals” about potential U.S.-Russia discussions but emphasized that Ukraine had not been involved in preparing the framework. During talks in Turkey with President Tayyip Erdogan, Zelenskiy called for strong and coordinated U.S. leadership to help end the war, stressing that only the United States and President Donald Trump have the leverage to push the conflict toward resolution.

The prospect of renewed diplomatic efforts boosted Ukrainian government bonds on Wednesday, marking their biggest jump in months. However, Moscow has offered no indication that it is willing to shift its longstanding demands. Russia still insists that Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw from four regions Moscow claims as Russian territory—conditions Kyiv rejects outright.

According to an Axios report, the U.S. plan may involve Ukraine relinquishing contested eastern territories in exchange for robust American security guarantees designed to protect Kyiv and Europe from future aggression. Some European diplomats view this as an attempt to pressure Ukraine into an unfavorable compromise, noting that reducing Ukraine’s armed forces aligns more closely with Russian demands than Western priorities.

With Russian forces controlling roughly 19% of Ukraine and intensifying attacks on energy infrastructure ahead of winter, the urgency for a negotiated solution is clearly rising. A U.S. delegation led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is currently in Kyiv on a fact-finding mission, with plans to meet Zelenskiy as diplomatic efforts intensify.