The so-called US-Russia plan to end the war stipulates that Ukraine hand over the entire Donbas, cut its armed forces by half, renounce key categories of weaponry, and recognize Russian as an official state language, Financial Times and Axios report.
According to reports published on November 19, 2025, the 28-point document was drafted by a group of current and former Russian and American officials and delivered to Kyiv by Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Under the plan, Ukraine must cede the remainder of the Donbas, including territories currently held by Kyiv. Axios reports that Russia would gain full control over the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, even though Ukraine still controls approximately 12% of these territories. In the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, control lines would largely be frozen, with Russia returning some land based on negotiation results.
The plan also requires cutting the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by half and abandoning key categories of weaponry. At the same time, it envisages the winding down of US military aid, which has been vital for the country's defense.
Other points include recognizing Russian as an official state language of Ukraine and granting official status to the Russian Orthodox Church. These provisions reflect the Kremlin's long-standing political goals.
According to information from Reuters published earlier the same day, Washington signaled to President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine must accept the main points of the American framework agreement, drafted in consultation with Russia.
A person familiar with the document described it to the Financial Times as "heavily tilted in Russia's favor." Another source called the plan "very comfortable for Putin." Officials in Kyiv stated that the document aligns deeply with the Kremlin's maximalist demands and would be unacceptable to Ukraine without significant changes.
According to Axios, the plan was discussed at a meeting between NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov and Steve Witkoff in Miami last week. A US source claims Umerov was authorized by Zelensky to negotiate, and many of his comments were incorporated into the text. However, a Ukrainian official denies that Zelensky's advisor accepted the plan's terms during the meeting.
A trilateral meeting between Witkoff, Zelensky, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, scheduled for Wednesday in Ankara, was postponed. A US official claims this happened after Zelensky "backed away from the agreements reached with Umerov" and showed no interest in discussing Trump's plan. A Ukrainian official explained the postponement by stating Zelensky asked to discuss the plan in a broader format involving European nations.
"The ball is in Zelensky's court. He can come to Washington to discuss the new American plan if he wants," a US official told Axios.