Kathrine Frich
The U.S.–Russia-negotiated peace plan for Ukraine have stirred anger and anxiety across the region.
While Moscow-leaning Telegram channels predict sweeping concessions, many Ukrainians say any deal requiring territorial losses would betray the sacrifices made since Russia’s invasion.
The controversy has spread rapidly online, where both disbelief and resentment dominate the discussion.
Russian reactions
Large pro-Kremlin Telegram channels framed the alleged 28-point plan as a moment of looming capitulation for Kyiv, according to reporting by Wirtualna Polska.
The channel “Russia Now,” with more than a million followers, claimed that Ukraine, weakened by corruption scandals and battlefield setbacks, might be pressured into accepting Washington’s outline.
The plan, said to be drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in discussions with Russian representative Kirill Dmitriev, reportedly excludes Ukraine and its European partners.
Some Russian users expressed satisfaction at the idea of Ukraine ceding parts of Donbas while drastically reducing its armed forces and abandoning long-range weapons.
Yet others voiced doubts.
One commenter wrote that no gains would be secured “until we occupy our territories ourselves,” while others questioned whether Europe or Kyiv would ever approve terms seen as disproportionately favourable to Moscow.
Weariness with the war was also evident. As Wirtualna Polska noted, several Russian users simply wished for an end to the fighting, even as more hawkish voices urged a push for outright victory.
Ukrainian frustration
On Ukrainian social media, reactions were sharply critical.
Many described any surrender of territory as “capitulation” and warned that concessions would only embolden Moscow to resume attacks in the future.
One user asked why troops were still dying in trenches “so our children will live under Russian rule again,” accusing Washington of acting in its own interests.
Some posts mocked the United States for past security guarantees, while others argued that the reported proposal resembled “Putin’s version” of a settlement rather than a Western peace effort.
Another user warned that “any politician who accepts the loss of territories will be carried out feet first,” reflecting widespread anger at the idea of redrawing borders after a decade of war.
Sources: Wirtualna Polska
