Donbas deadlock: Key points on peace plan, partner doubts, and US pressure

US peace plan: key points

The US peace plan appeared in November. Western media were the first to report on it, even publishing its 28 points. Later, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the discussions of the document. The US and Ukrainian teams held several rounds of negotiations, after which the document was reduced to 20 points.

US negotiators also met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Following the talks, Kremlin representatives confirmed that the peace plan had been delivered to them, along with four additional documents. One of the main topics of discussion was territorial issues.

The latest round of Ukraine-US talks took place this past weekend in Miami. Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, is expected to brief Zelenskyy personally today on the progress of the negotiations.

What the US says

Unlike previous rounds, the US side is currently not actively commenting on the topic. There have also been noticeably fewer leaks in Western media. President Donald Trump has not announced any meetings regarding the negotiations, nor has he set the usual deadlines for resolving the issue. For now, US peace talks are being conducted by President Trump’s representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

However, yesterday, Trump again expressed disappointment - this time with Ukraine.

"I have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn't yet read the proposal. That was as of a few hours ago," the US President said, referring to the negotiations by his representatives with the Ukrainian side.

According to RBC-Ukraine sources, Zelenskyy is receiving reports on the negotiations from Umerov. However, as of the morning of December 8, the President has not yet reviewed some of the new proposals, as not everything can be discussed over the phone.

What Zelenskyy says

Today, the Ukrainian President stated that the participants in the negotiations have not reached a common vision regarding the future of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"There are visions of the US, Russia, and Ukraine - and we don't have a unified view on Donbas," Zelenskyy said.

He also stressed the importance of security guarantees from the US, which is also a key point in the peace plan.

Earlier today, Zelenskyy visited London to discuss the peace plan with European allies. Attendees included:

• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said today’s talks are a "critical stage of the push for peace."

• French President Emmanuel Macron, who stated that Europe has "a lot of cards" in its hands.

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said he is "sceptical about some of the details in documents coming from the US."

What the media reports

Politico, citing unnamed officials, writes that "Russia demands Ukraine give up territories, and Americans keep thinking how to make it happen."

Sources told the outlet that the US insists that "Ukraine must leave the Donbas".

According to AFP, the territorial issue is the most problematic in the negotiations. This is also confirmed by RBC-Ukraine sources.

The outlet also cites an unnamed official saying, "Putin does not want to enter into an agreement without territory. So they are looking for any options to ensure that Ukraine cedes territory."

"The Americans are pressuring, like 'faster, faster, faster,'" the source added, noting that Ukraine "cannot agree to everything without working out the details."

Bloomberg reports that after the London talks, Zelenskyy will travel to Brussels and tomorrow to Rome for a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

"After that, we will have our joint vision. And I am ready to fly to the US if the President is ready for such a meeting," Zelenskyy told the outlet.