A U. S. Plan Raises Eyebrows: Ukraine's Security at Risk?

A recent U.S. proposal to end the Ukraine-Russia war has set off alarm bells in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials are worried that the plan would force their country to make big compromises that could weaken its security and independence.

The Proposal's Demands

The plan, which was put together by American and Russian officials without Ukraine's input, includes some tough demands:

• Territorial Concessions: Ukraine would have to give up territory it currently controls.
• Military Reduction: Ukraine's military would be capped at 600,000 personnel, a significant reduction from the more than 900,000 serving today.
• Vague Security Promises: The proposal offers unclear security guarantees for the future.

Pressure on Zelenskyy

Ukrainian officials who have seen the full proposal say that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is under a lot of pressure from Washington to sign the agreement quickly, before Thanksgiving.

Key Concerns

• Donetsk Region: The plan would require Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the Donetsk region, a major red line for Kyiv.
• Future Vulnerability: Reducing the military could leave Ukraine vulnerable to future Russian aggression.
• Sanctions Rollback: The proposal includes a phased rollback of US sanctions on Russia and opens the door for Moscow to rejoin the G8 grouping of advanced economies.
• Global Financial Markets: Critics in Kyiv say the structure gives Moscow a path back into global financial markets while giving Washington major leverage over Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Kyiv's Response

Ukrainian officials warn that the current terms fall far short of providing full security guarantees and deterrence. With Kyiv under pressure to respond within days, many fear Ukraine may be cornered into accepting a peace that ends the fighting in the short term but leaves the country strategically exposed.