Russia says no formal communication as Zelensky open to review – Firstpost

Russia has said it has not received any formal communication from Washington regarding the proposed US peace initiative, even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signaled a willingness to consider the Trump administration’s “approach” to ending the conflict.

The widely leaked draft plan includes several conditions that Kiev has long rejected, such as handing over parts of eastern Donetsk still under Ukrainian control, limiting the size of its army and a commitment not to pursue NATO membership. The concessions largely favor Moscow, prompting a measured response from Zelensky’s office on Thursday, November 20.

The leaks came to light as Russian forces launched attacks, with overnight attacks killing six people – five in Zaporizhia in the south and one in Dnipropetrovsk in the east. Moscow has reported modest territorial gains, while Zelensky faces growing political pressure at home over a $100 million corruption scandal involving senior officials.

US defends drafting process

The White House has rejected claims that Kiev was excluded from shaping the plan. US officials said the document was drafted shortly after discussions between special envoy Steve Witkoff and Rustam Umerov, a top Ukrainian official who was reportedly supportive of several points in the plan. However, Umerov wrote on Telegram that he neither supported nor evaluated the proposal, stressing that Ukraine was still “carefully reviewing” its partners’ suggestions.

Zelensky has avoided direct criticism, instead expressing appreciation for President Trump’s “efforts to restore European security” – a gesture seen as a way to maintain goodwill with the US despite alleged concessions to Russia. His office said Washington thought the plan could “revitalize diplomatic efforts” and expected Zelensky to discuss the proposal with Trump soon.

Russia has maintained its stance

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia had seen “new elements” in the discussions, but stressed that no official documents had been presented and no concrete talks had taken place. Moscow claims it is “completely open” to negotiations, but insists that any agreement must address the “root causes” of the war, which Kiev interprets as a call for broader concessions. Tensions have risen between Washington and Moscow, with Trump imposing new sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil companies on Friday, citing frustration over stalled talks.

European leaders call for inclusion

Kiev and European leaders have repeatedly stressed the need for a “fair and lasting” peace that prevents Russian territorial expansion. Yet EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she had seen no evidence of Europe’s involvement in shaping the US plan, stressing that any workable proposal should include both Ukraine and its European allies. German Foreign Minister Johann Waddefull described the document not as a complete plan but as “a set of ideas and options”.

Major provisions of the draft

According to reports, the draft plan would limit Ukraine’s armed forces to 600,000 personnel, deploy European combat aircraft to Poland rather than Ukraine, and require Kiev to give up many of its weapons. It promises “reliable security guarantees” without providing details. The plan also requires Russia to refrain from attacking neighboring states and calls on NATO to stop further expansion.

Additionally, the proposal envisages re-integrating Russia into global economic and political structures, including lifting sanctions and inviting Moscow back into the G7, restoring the former G8 format.