European nations are collaborating with Ukraine to develop a 12-point plan aimed at ending the conflict with Russia, based on the current fighting lines. This initiative seeks to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s renewed demands for the United States to persuade Ukraine into territory concessions in exchange for a peace agreement.
According to informed sources cited by Bloomberg, a Peace Council will be established, headed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, to oversee the proposed plan’s implementation.
Once Russia and Ukraine agree to a ceasefire and commit to halting any military advances, the plan outlines provisions for prisoner exchanges and the return of all displaced children to Ukraine.
Additionally, the proposal includes security guarantees for Kyiv, funding for the reconstruction of war-torn areas, and a fast-track process for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
As for sanctions against Russia, some will be lifted gradually, while approximately $300 billion of Russia’s central bank reserves will remain frozen until Moscow commits to contributing to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. These restrictions will automatically be reinstated if Russia launches a new attack on its neighbor, as reported by Bloomberg.
Sources indicate that negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv will address the management of territories under Russian control; however, Europe and Ukraine will not legally recognize any Ukrainian land as Russian territory. They added that the specifics of the plan are still being finalized.
Modifications may occur, and the final proposal will require approval from the Trump administration. European officials are expected to travel to the U.S. this week to continue discussions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Trump’s proposal to negotiate with Russia based on the current front lines as a reasonable compromise but expressed doubt regarding Putin’s willingness to accept it.
During a brief visit to Oslo, Zelensky shared with reporters: “The American president proposed… stay in your positions and begin a dialogue… I think it’s a good compromise, but I’m not sure if Putin supports it, and I told that to President Trump.”
Trump, on his part, announced that he has indefinitely postponed a meeting scheduled with Putin in Budapest, citing his reluctance to waste time on unproductive discussions.
He told reporters at the White House: “I don’t want to have a pointless meeting, I don’t want to waste time, so I will see what happens.” He emphasized that he seeks to avoid meaningless engagements with Putin.
Russian state news agency reported Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as stating that preparations for a summit between Putin and Trump are still underway, expressing confidence that there are no significant obstacles to this meeting.
Military Drills
In other news, Putin oversaw tests of Russia’s nuclear forces on land, at sea, and in the air to evaluate their readiness and command structure. The drills involved launching a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from a space facility, a Sineva ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea, and nuclear-capable cruise missiles from strategic bombers. The Kremlin stated:
“The drills tested the level of preparedness of the military leadership and the operational skills of personnel in organizing control over their forces… all training tasks were completed successfully.”
Attacks
On the ground, officials reported that Russian missile and drone strikes in Ukraine resulted in six fatalities, including two children, and led to widespread power outages across the country.
Timur Takachchenko, head of the military administration of the Ukrainian capital, noted that debris from intercepted weapons scattered throughout Kyiv, igniting fires across several neighborhoods. Andrei Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, remarked:
“Ukraine had long accepted the American proposal for a ceasefire while Moscow strives to continue its military operations… this indicates that collective actions against Putin are currently insufficient, and we all need to do more together to compel him to stop killing our people.”
Furthermore, a Russian airstrike hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, resulting in one death, according to city mayor Ihor Terekhov. He added that seven people were injured, although initial reports of injured children have not been confirmed. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its forces gained control of Pavlivka village in the southeastern Zaporizhia region.
They also reported the capture of Ivanivka village in the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region. The ministry stated that its forces targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian sites.
While the Ukrainian General Staff claimed that the military struck a weapons and ammunition factory in Russia’s Mordovia region and an oil refinery in Dagestan, it was also reported that Ukrainian forces targeted a chemical plant in Russia’s Bryansk region in a coordinated air attack.