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Ukraine says it has reached a ''common understanding'' with the United States on nearly all major parts of Washington’s 28-point peace plan, signaling that Kyiv now disagrees with only a handful of issues as negotiations accelerate across multiple capitals.
The shift marks one of the clearest signs yet that Ukraine is willing to engage seriously with a U.S.-driven framework that could end almost four years of war, provided its sovereignty and long-term security are guaranteed.
Ukrainian national security adviser Rustem Umerov said the two sides had aligned on the “core terms” of the deal after talks in Geneva and that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing to travel to Washington to finish the remaining steps. The White House also confirmed that the main elements of the agreement are in place, though technical details still need ironing out.
President Donald Trump said his administration has “fine-tuned” the original proposal based on input from both Kyiv and Moscow, leaving only “a few remaining points of disagreement.” Trump has dispatched special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow and sent Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials as part of a last-minute push.
Why Ukraine is engaging now
For Kyiv, the appeal is straightforward: after years of grinding conflict, stalled fronts and mounting fatigue among allies, a political settlement may be the only realistic path to a “reliable peace.” Ukrainian officials say the U.S. plan offers something they have long sought, concrete security guarantees and a long-term framework that goes beyond battlefield gains.
When the deal could take shape
Trump initially set a Nov. 27 deadline for a deal, though the White House has since softened that timeline, saying it aims for an agreement “as soon as possible.” Trump said he will only meet Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin once the deal is final or nearly finished.
How the plan would work
The 28-point framework, not officially released by Washington but detailed in diplomatic summaries circulated through Al Jazeera, covers nearly every aspect of the conflict: territory, security guarantees, nuclear issues, reconstruction and future ties between the U.S. and Russia.
Here are the major components:
1. Security and sovereignty
- Formal recognition of Ukraine’s sovereignty, tied to a non-aggression pact among Russia, Ukraine and Europe.
Russia pledges no future invasions; NATO promises no eastward expansion. - Ukraine must commit not to join NATO and write this into its constitution.
- NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.
- Ukraine’s military capped at 600,000 troops.
- U.S. security guarantees offered, with strict conditions. The guarantee would be void if Ukraine launches unprovoked strikes deep inside Russia.
2. Territorial arrangements
The most controversial section:
- Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk recognized as de facto Russian, even by the U.S.
- Parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia frozen along current front lines.
- Ukraine would withdraw from some areas of Donetsk it controls, creating a demilitarized buffer zone recognized internationally as Russian.
- Both sides barred from attempting to change borders by force.
3. Nuclear and energy provisions
- Ukraine stays a non-nuclear state under the NPT.
- U.S. and Russia extend nuclear control treaties, including START.
- Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant restarts under IAEA monitoring, with electricity split evenly between Russia and Ukraine.
4. Reconstruction and economic reintegration
- A massive reconstruction package: a Ukraine Development Fund, new infrastructure, technology investments and rebuilding destroyed cities.
- Joint U.S.-Ukraine modernization of Ukraine’s gas network.
- Russia gradually reintegrated into the global economy and potentially back into the G8.
- Around $100 billion in frozen Russian assets used to rebuild Ukraine, with profits shared.
5. Humanitarian measures
- Full prisoner swaps, return of civilian hostages and displaced children, and a family reunification program.
- A committee to support war victims.
- Educational and cultural steps to reduce hate and protect minorities.
6. Elections and legal guarantees
- Ukraine holds elections within 100 days of signing.
- Full wartime amnesty for all sides.
- A legally binding agreement monitored by a “Peace Council” chaired by Trump.
- Ceasefire begins once both sides pull back to agreed positions.
Could it work?
Analysts say the plan’s success hinges on two highly sensitive areas: territorial concessions and security guarantees. For Ukraine, the promise of firm U.S. backing, economic reconstruction and a path toward EU membership may be powerful incentives. For Russia, the lure is sanctions relief, territorial recognition and long-term security arrangements.
Whether both sides accept those trade-offs will determine whether this becomes a historic peace deal, or another diplomatic dead end.
As British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned, “There’s still a long way to go.”
*With information from Al Jazeera and USA Today
