Edith HejbergDr. Marcin Zaborowski, a former director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, believes the American plan is essentially a Russian proposal repackaged by the US.
Just days after the US unveiled its peace proposal for Ukraine, the plan is already under strain. Originally crafted as a potential path toward ending the war, it has quickly splintered as Ukraine and its allies reject several key Russian demands. Moscow, meanwhile, continues to insist the plan is a “good basis for talks,” despite its shifting content.
Trump and Putin meet in Alaska for historic talks
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, to begin high-stakes peace negotiations.
The setting underscored the gravity of the discussions, with both sides hoping for a breakthrough, but entering the talks with vastly different expectations.
Kyiv slashes demands from 28 to 19 points
According to The Guardian, Ukraine has revised the US-backed plan, cutting its original 28 points down to 19.
The changes reflect Kyiv’s refusal to accept territorial losses and its insistence on sovereignty over decisions like joining NATO or the EU. European allies have rallied behind this firmer position.
Zelensky says the plan still needs work
Despite some agreement with Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the peace plan remains far from complete.
“There is still much to work on together, it’s very difficult,” he said, adding that any final deal must uphold Ukraine’s dignity. Zelensky is planning a visit to the White House to continue discussions.
The Kremlin shifts tone, expressing discontent
Russia’s reaction to the evolving plan has been swift and sharp. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the plan has been altered since it was unofficially shared with Moscow.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that if the key tenets of the Anchorage agreement are removed, the deal could unravel entirely.
Experts say the US plan echoes Russian proposals
Dr. Marcin Zaborowski, a former director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, believes the American plan is essentially a Russian proposal repackaged by the US.
He argues that Europe has been forced to clean it up, and the plan places undue pressure on Ukraine while offering Russia little risk in return.
Putin and Trump take center stage, sidelining Europe
Zaborowski warns that the real power players are now Putin and Trump, not Europe. “The Russians will continue to play to the American proposal,” he said. “The problem is that Europe isn’t dictating the terms. Putin and Trump are.”
Russia still wants all of Ukraine, former diplomat warns
Leszek Sherepka, former Polish ambassador to Belarus, believes Putin’s ultimate goal remains unchanged: total control over Ukraine.
Even if a peace deal is struck, he says, it may only offer temporary relief. The initial plan, he claims, was clearly drafted by Russians and handed to the Americans for presentation.
“A noose around our necks,” says European diplomat
Sherepka described the original peace plan as a disaster for international norms, noting it ignored Russian war crimes and accepted border changes by force.
“If it were accepted, it would be a complete disgrace to the entire international security system,” he said. “When I saw the plan, my hair stood on end.”
Trump’s advisor played key role in Russia’s favor
According to behind-the-scenes reports, Trump advisor Steve Witkoff, who lacks deep experience in European affairs, was instrumental in shaping the plan after meetings with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Witkoff reportedly concluded that Ukraine’s weaker military position meant it had to give more ground to Moscow.
Historical precedent reveals Russia’s long game
Sherepka draws parallels with a 1990 agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which promised border stability, so long as Ukraine remained aligned with Moscow.
He suggests that even if Russia agrees to concessions now, it could reverse course later. “That’s the Russian mentality,” he said.
Putin underestimated the war’s duration
“The war was supposed to last a week, maybe two. It’s been four years now,” Sherepka noted.
He argues that Putin miscalculated, and that a strong Western response is essential for lasting peace. Yet with Trump involved, he fears that Russia might still walk away with the upper hand.
Trump could be Putin’s ace in the hole
For all the diplomatic back-and-forth, Sherepka believes one factor could tilt the negotiations decisively in Moscow’s favor: Donald Trump. “If the Ukrainians have weak cards in the negotiations, Putin has one ace up his sleeve.
That ace is Donald Trump,” he concluded.
