Reports detail a proposed U.S.-Russian plan for ending the war in Ukraine, involving territorial concessions and military limitations for Ukraine, but it faces skepticism from Ukrainian officials, European allies, and U.S. politicians.
by CORY SMITH | The National News DeskFILE - In this image made from video provided by the Russia n Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, a Russia n "Grad" self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions on an undisclosed location in Ukraine .
But the 28-point plan was reportedly developed with Russian officials, and it's unclear if Ukraine or our European allies would get on board.and others are reporting that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and a Russian counterpart worked on the plan before pulling the Ukrainians into the discussion. The plan would require Ukraine to give up the contested provinces that make up the Donbas region and allow Russia to retain the previously captured Crimea, according to reports.Meanwhile, Ukraine would agree to limits on its military. The U.S. and other countries would recognize Crimea and the Donbas as Russian under the plan, though Ukraine wouldn’t be required to do so.The Associated PressMark N. KatzShe confirmed that Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been working on a plan quietly for about a month. “They've been engaging with both sides, Russia and Ukraine equally, to understand what these countries would commit to in order to see a lasting and durable peace,” she said.The plan is in flux, Leavitt said. She framed reports about the plan as inaccurate but declined to counter with specifics.The plan, as reported, appears to be a nonstarter for Ukraine, Katz said. And Katz expressed skepticism that European allies would be willing to go along with key parts of the plan, such as recognizing the Donbas and Crimea as lawful Russian territory.Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, also poured cold water on the idea of the plan, as it’s being reported, leading to an end of the war. Cotton said during an interview on “Fox & Friends” that Ukraine will never agree to slash its military or give up critical weapons that could leave it vulnerable to future Russian attacks. “There's a lot of provisions in these leaks that probably no Ukrainian could ever agree to. ... Ukraine will not be able to give up vast swaths of territory that Russia has not been able to seize, and probably more importantly, have very critical defensive lines that are important for preventing a future return to hostilities,” Cotton said. Katz, a professor emeritus of government and politics at George Mason University, said the Ukrainians might not have a lot of faith in the U.S. security guarantee, especially if it’s coupled with a weakened military of its own. “And why would the U.S. recognize this territory as Russian?” Katz said. “In other words, all they have to do is recognize it as disputed.” Katz said that Trump might be banking on the Ukrainians wanting to stop the fighting, expecting they’ll eventually lose the Donbas and other land to Russia. So, why not just stop the bleeding? FILE -{ }Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to journalists September 27, 2025, in Kyiv, Ukraine. But Katz said the Ukrainians fear that giving in to Russian demands will just leave them weaker and embolden Russian leader Vladimir Putin to attack down the line.FILE -{ }Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska. Putin will want to keep a land link between the Donbas and Crimea, so the plan would include Russia maintaining some control of Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces, as well. Katz said he doubts Zelenskyy could survive politically if he gives up vast amounts of territory to Russia.But Katz said he wouldn’t expect Putin to keep the peace for more than a few years at best. “If the West backed down before, they'll back down again. That's ... the conclusion he would draw,” Katz said. And it might be tough sledding to get the European allies to back the plan, as they see Ukraine as a line in the sand against Russian aggression.President Donald Trump on Thursday called for the arrests of certain Democratic lawmakers and even expressed support for a call to hang them.Newly released footage provides a dramatic look at the response of first responders to a house fire near Reynoldsburg that killed three people.The video showsMary Rutan Hospital in central Ohio is suing thousands of patients over unpaid medical debt.Deliberations closed Thursday afternoon with no verdict in the Connor Grubb murder trial.Grubb is the Blendon Township police officer who shot and killed Ta'Ki
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