RismadarVoice Reporters
January 5, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has opposed a reported United States proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine after being presented with terms that would require Kyiv to surrender territory in exchange for financial compensation.
According to reports, the proposal was discussed between the United States and Russia, later presented to Ukrainian officials. The plan reportedly includes conditions that would see Ukraine lease parts of the eastern Donbas region to Russia, reduce the size of its armed forces, and give up key weapons systems.
The proposal is said to be part of a 28 point framework developed without Ukraine’s direct participation, raising concerns within Kyiv over negotiations affecting the country’s future without its consent.
Under the reported terms, Ukraine would retain legal ownership of the Donbas while allowing Russia to exercise control on a lease basis.
Other conditions reportedly include halving Ukraine’s military strength, prohibiting the possession of long range missile systems.
President Zelensky has consistently rejected any settlement that involves territorial concessions, maintaining that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiable.
The development follows a series of meetings between Zelensky and United States President Donald Trump, including engagements during the United Nations General Assembly in September and discussions at the White House in October.
Trump’s public position on the conflict has shifted over time. At various points, he has encouraged territorial compromise to bring the war to an end, while on other occasions – stating that Ukraine, with support from the European Union, is capable of reclaiming all occupied territory.
In August, Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where a proposal involving sanctions relief in exchange for a ceasefire was discussed. Russian officials later rejected the offer, insisting that the conflict would only end if Ukraine surrendered additional territory in the Donbas.
Russian authorities have continued to press demands that include territorial concessions and military restrictions as conditions for ending the war, which has now continued for more than three years.
The Ukrainian government has not confirmed receiving a formal written proposal, has reiterated that any peace process must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and internationally recognized borders.
The conflict remains unresolved as diplomatic engagements continue alongside ongoing military operations.
