Ukraine Submits Formal Response to U.S. Peace Plan as Trump Eyes Meeting with European Leaders

Ukraine officially submitted its response to the United States’ peace plan on Wednesday, a major development in stalled efforts to end the war with Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump says top European leaders have proposed a meeting with him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to push talks forward, but he wants “answers” from Kyiv first.

The stakes are high as the war enters its fourth year, and pressure grows on Kyiv to clarify its position on a contentious diplomatic package that could reshape the conflict. According to diplomats familiar with the proposal, Ukraine’s response engages with a 20-point document drawn from an earlier 28-point U.S.-drafted plan, touching on security guarantees, elections and broader governance issues.

But deep tensions persist. The latest U.S. draft would, in some areas, effectively acknowledge Russian-held territory, a shift that alarms many Ukrainians and Europeans.

“It’s a serious diplomatic exchange, and we hope this leads to tangible progress,” said a European diplomat involved in talks.

This matters because the peace plan touches on Ukraine’s future borders, security and sovereignty at a moment when U.S. and European cohesion is being tested. With Trump pushing for a breakthrough and European leaders urging unity, Ukraine’s reply could influence whether the next negotiating phase brings compromise or deeper division.

Next up, officials from Kyiv, Washington and allied capitals are expected to continue talks virtually and, if agreed, meet in person this weekend.

Ukraine’s response could shape whether diplomacy overtakes battlefield stalemate in the months ahead.