Ukraine War10 December, 20252 min read
EU Hands Trump Plan Proposing Ukraine Cede Territory to Russia
European leaders gave the US a revised peace proposal outlining Ukrainian territorial concessions German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said territorial decisions must be made by Zelensky and Ukrainians
15 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Russian Attack Kills At Least 33 On Two Buses In Kramatorsk →
European peace proposal to Washington
European leaders say they have sent Washington a new European peace proposal that explicitly addresses possible territorial concessions Ukraine might consider.
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the EU has sent the US a document with proposals for a peace plan for Ukraine and that active negotiations with Washington could begin in the coming days.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said talks with the U.S. could start imminently, possibly as early as this weekend.
Merz said the document addresses the political process around Ukraine, notably possible territorial concessions.
Leaders including France's Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Keir Starmer joined a call with U.S. President Donald Trump to continue intensive work on a plan seen as crucial for Euro-Atlantic security.
Reporting indicates the European proposal was delivered to Washington and will be discussed in imminent negotiations involving the E3, Ukraine and U.S. officials.
Territorial decisions and peace
German and Ukrainian officials, including German politician Merz, say any territorial decisions belong to Ukraine's president and people. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Kyiv is preparing a 20-point framework, a security-guarantee agreement, and a reconstruction plan as part of a peace package. Kyiv's leaders have resisted earlier leaked proposals that would have constrained Ukraine's NATO ambitions and military capacity.
Media reactions to plan
Reactions to the plan and to U.S. signals differ sharply across news outlets. Donald Trump is quoted warning that Russia has the upper hand and urging Ukraine to accept more realism, a point that tabloid coverage highlights as a rebuke to Kyiv; StratNews Global likewise reports Trump saying Russia has 'the upper hand' and that Ukraine is 'losing'. By contrast, the BBC stresses Moscow's diplomatic messaging that it is broadly aligned with Washington on a neutral, non-aligned Ukraine and quotes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praising Trump's mediation, while noting that Kyiv and European backers distrust Moscow because of past breaches of ceasefires and demand concrete international guarantees.
“Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly blasted Zelensky for rejecting his 28‑point peace plan (modeled on his Gaza deal), warned that Russia currently has the upper hand, and urged Kyiv to ‘get its act together.’”
Diplomatic pressure over Ukraine
Several outlets warn the process is fraught and that European leaders are racing to shape terms amid fears a U.S. approach might tilt toward Russian aims. Kyiv Post and news.liga.net report broad concern that U.S. proposals or leaked plans have pressured Kyiv to consider ceding territory and abandoning NATO ambitions, while Merz and others warn Europe must not force Ukraine into an unacceptable deal.
Reporting also notes procedural uncertainty: Kyiv has sent an updated plan to Washington and the U.S. reaction is awaited. A Germany-hosted Berlin meeting has been proposed if weekend talks yield progress.
