Introduction:

 

The Russia-Ukrainian War (2022-Present) is a specific conflict between Ukraine and Russia that started on February 24, 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. However, this is not the first conflict Ukraine and Russia have had, and it’s been happening for centuries. After more than three years of this Russia-Ukrainian War, peace talks have commenced and there have been various proposals made.

 

United States 28-Point Proposal:

 

On November 21, 2025 the United States under Donald Trump revealed a 28 point proposal to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia. This proposal requires an immediate ceasefire along current lines; a comprehensive non‑aggression agreement involving Russia, Ukraine, and European parties; limits on Ukraine’s future NATO membership; restrictions on the size and posture of Ukraine’s armed forces to 600,000 personnel in peacetime.and mechanisms for security guarantees and monitoring. 

 

The proposal also states that Crimea. Luhansk, and Donetsk will be under the control of Russia. Furthermore, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are frozen along the line of contact. That means that the military holdings are legitimate and constitute a practical boundary. Instead of forcing either side to withdraw to earlier borders, a ceasefire would leave troops in control of where they are now. The proposal also states that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the parts of Donetsk Oblast they already control, and that this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone. Russian forces are not allowed to enter this demilitarized zone.

 

Concerning Ukraine and NATO, rather  than immediate NATO membership, the plan envisions a formal prohibition or long‑term limitation on Ukraine joining NATO, coupled with a negotiated Russia‑NATO dialogue to address security concerns. Furthermore, the text sets timelines for certain local elections and reintegration processes in contested areas. It puts international observers and legal frameworks in place to regulate how local authorities are reconstituted and how displaced persons might return.

 

Many have criticized this plan as requiring painful Ukrainian concessions that mirror the reasons Russia invaded Ukraine.

 

NATO/ European (E3) Counterproposal:

 

On November 23, 2025, the E3, which consists of the U.K., France, and Germany, provided a counterproposal that keeps most of the U.S. structure but rewrites or removes clauses that would lock in Russian gains, reaffirms Ukrainian sovereignty, and preserves Ukraine’s future NATO option. The E3 counterproposal removes language that legitimizes Russian gains and instead states that Ukraine will not attempt to recover its occupied sovereign territory through force but instead through negotiation on territorial swaps that will start from the line of contact. Unlike the 28 point plan, this proposal reaffirms that Ukraine has a future NATO option and will not have a permanent bar. Many other changes in the text simply asks for more oversight in areas like elections and humanitarian measures. Critics argue that this proposal will likely stall or take longer than the 28 point plan to resolve the conflict due to the provisions it left out.

 

Geneva 19-Point Draft:

 

The Geneva 19-point proposal was drafted on November 24, 2025 in Geneva and was led by U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators. The proposal bases itself in the 28 point plan, however, it refined the plan into 19 points and left out some of the most contentious issues. The Geneva framework does not finalize borders. It maintains ceasefire lines and operational arrangements in place and defers definitive settlement of territorial claims to later negotiations among heads of state. Concerning NATO, the Geneva text does not grant or permanently bar NATO accession. Instead, it treats the NATO question as still under discussion and postpones any binding decision.

 

Conclusion:

 

It is expected that negotiators and governments will push for the Geneva 19-point draft and continue to try to resolve territory issues and Ukraine’s relationship to NATO alongside this draft. It still remains unknown, however, how Russia and Ukraine will respond to this proposal and if it will be accepted. 

Sources:

 

United States Proposal Text

 

Ravid, Barak, and Dave Lawler. “Trump’s Ukraine‑Russia Peace Plan, in the Full 28 Points.” Axios, 20 Nov. 2025, https://www.axios.com/2025/11/20/trump-ukraine-peace-plan-28-points-russia.

 

E3 Proposal Text

 

Reuters. “Full Text: European Counter‑Proposal to US Ukraine Peace Plan.” Reuters, 23 Nov. 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/full-text-european-counter-proposal-us-ukraine-peace-plan-2025-11-23/.

 

Geneva Proposal Text

 

The Geneva Document: Here Is the Full Text of the European Counter‑Proposal to the US Peace Plan for Ukraine. Fakti.bg, 24 Nov. 2025, https://fakti.bg/en/amp/world/1016551-the-geneva-document-here-is-the-full-text-of-the-european-counter-proposal-to-the-us-peace-plan-for-ukraine.

 

Ukraine Accepts Geneva Proposal (November 25, 2025)

 

According to sources, the Ukrainian delegation has accepted the terms of the Geneva 19-point proposal. The U.S. official that stated this information stated that the Ukrainian delegation accepts the proposal broadly and there are a few minor details that need to be worked out. Now all eyes are on Russia to agree to the proposal which U.S. officials remain optimistic about.

 

Sources: 

 

“Trump’s Russia-Ukraine War Peace Plan: What We Know.” Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025, www.newsweek.com/trump-russia-ukraine-war-peace-plan-news-updates-11103452.

 

Mallin, Alexander, and Shannon Crawford. “U.S. Holds Secret Meetings with Russians in Abu Dhabi on Ukraine.” ABC News, 24 Nov. 2025, abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-holds-secret-meetings-russians-abu-dhabi-ukraine/story?id=127840867.

 

Peace Negotiations 

 

Trump announced on November 25 that he is sending his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with President Putin of Russia while Secretary of the Army Dan Driskoll meets with the Ukrainians in hopes of fine tuning the peace proposals and ending the war.

 

Source:

 

POTUS. "Instagram post." Instagram, www.instagram.com/p/DRffEVOD5yd/?igsh=OTR3MDllYmFhNDAz. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.