AP file photo (70)
European nations are reportedly collaborating with Ukraine on a 12-point plan to end Russia’s war along existing front lines, rejecting Vladimir Putin’s renewed demands for Kyiv to cede territory in exchange for peace. A peace board chaired by US President Donald Trump would oversee the plan’s implementation, as per sources cited by Bloomberg. The proposal mirrors Trump’s calls last week to halt the conflict along existing front lines before beginning negotiations.
What is the plan?
Once Russia and Ukraine agree to a ceasefire and halt territorial advances, the proposals call for the return of all deported children to Ukraine and the exchange of prisoners.Ukraine would also receive security guarantees, funding to repair war damage, and a fast-track pathway to join the European Union.Moscow and Kyiv would negotiate the administration of occupied territories, though sources said neither Europe nor Ukraine would legally recognize any of the land as Russian.Sanctions on Russia would be eased gradually, but approximately $300 billion in frozen central bank reserves would be released only after Moscow agrees to contribute to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. The restrictions would be reinstated if Russia launched another attack on its neighbor. Russia has so far refused calls to halt the fighting along current front lines, despite suffering heavy casualties in the war, now entering its fourth year.European leaders on Tuesday also expressed their “strong support” for an immediate ceasefire along the current battle lines in Ukraine, aiming to pave the way for peace talks and revive efforts to end the war.This comes amid reports that the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week erupted into a “shouting match” several times, with Trump “cursing constantly,” according to the Financial Times.During the meeting, Trump dismissed maps of the frontlines in Ukraine, urged Zelenskyy to surrender the entire Donbas region to Putin, and repeatedly repeated talking points that the Russian leader had made during their call the previous day.Meanwhile, a planned summit between Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, was postponed on Tuesday, as Moscow’s refusal to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine stalled negotiation efforts. A senior White House official told Reuters that “there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future,” following a “productive call” between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, which did not result in an in-person meeting.
