A new report claims President Donald Trump is preparing a plan to end the war between Ukraine and Russia — and yes, it’s already rubbing plenty of people the wrong way. Axios, citing a U.S. official, says the proposal would involve Ukraine giving up portions of eastern territory that Russia doesn’t even currently occupy. Naturally, the usual critics are calling it surrender, but the goal is simple: stop the war before Ukraine loses even more.
According to the official, Ukraine would receive security guarantees from both the United States and Europe to prevent future Russian aggression. In other words, instead of endless fighting with no clear end, the plan attempts to establish a long-term shield around Ukraine — something many European governments have somehow failed to provide despite years of dramatic speeches.
The proposal would place the entire Donbas region under Russian control, even though Ukraine still holds about 14.5% of it as of now. Once transferred, it would become a demilitarized zone where Russia cannot station troops. Crimea and Donbas would be recognized as Russian territory by the U.S. and several other countries — though Ukraine would not be forced to recognize that reality, which, let’s be honest, already exists on the ground whether Kyiv likes it or not.
In the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the lines of control would be frozen where they are, with Russia giving up some areas, Axios reported. Ukraine’s military capabilities — especially long-range weapons — would be limited, something a Ukrainian official acknowledged.
Turkey and Qatar have also been involved in shaping the plan, showing that diplomacy sometimes requires more than photo ops and hashtags.
“The ball is in Zelenskyy’s court,” the U.S. official said. And that’s true — negotiations only move if Ukraine decides to engage. But Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected any deal involving territorial concessions. Back in August 2025, he said Ukrainians “will not gift their land to the occupier,” a noble sentiment, though wars usually don’t end on slogans alone.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin insists any peace deal must include Ukraine giving up the four regions Russia claims: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. No surprise there — he’s been repeating that demand for years.
Europe, of course, is busy debating terminology. Some officials oppose any “land-for-peace” concept, while others are now warming to a “security-for-peace” framework. Leave it to European bureaucrats to rebrand the same idea with nicer wording.
In Ukraine, public skepticism remains high. Many Ukrainians are wary of any deal that looks like surrender, though a number of leaders say that freezing front lines or establishing a cease-fire could be acceptable if backed by strong international guarantees — which Trump’s proposal aims to provide.
The plan is far from final, but one thing is clear: unlike the endless war approach favored by many in Washington, this proposal actually attempts to stop the fighting, stabilize the region, and prevent Ukraine from losing even more territory. And in a world full of politicians who specialize in delay, indecision, and wishful thinking, at least someone is talking about real solutions.
A difficult peace is better than an endless war — and that’s something the world can be thankful for.
