"The 28-point Trumpplan calls for Russia to gain full de facto control of Luhansk and Donetsk (together referred to as the Donbas), despite Ukraine still controlling around 12% of the territory there. Despite being under Russian control, the areas in Donbas from which Ukraine would withdraw would be considered a demilitarized zone, with Russia not able to position troops there. In two other war-torn regions, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, the current lines of control would mostly be frozen in place, with Russia returning some land, subject to negotiations."
"Between the lines: According to the Trump plan, the U.S. and other countries would recognize Crimea and the Donbas as lawfully Russian territory but Ukraine would not be asked to. A Ukrainian official claimed the plan also included limitations on the size of the Ukrainian military and on its long-range weapons in return for U.S. security guarantees. The Ukrainian official also confirmed that the U.S. plan includes Ukrainian territorial concessions in the Donbas. It's unclear what the U.S. security guarantees would entail beyond a promise to defend against further Russian aggression."
"The intrigue: According to two sources with direct knowledge, Qatar and Turkey are involved in the drafting of the new Trump plan and in supporting the U.S. mediation efforts. "The Qatari and Turkish mediation helped in ending the war in Gaza and could help in ending the war in Ukraine," one of the sources said. A senior Qatari official participated in the talks between Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's national security adviser Rustem Umerov last weekend, the sources said."
A 28-point proposal envisions Russia gaining full de facto control of Luhansk and Donetsk, despite Ukraine retaining about 12% of Donbas territory. Areas in Donbas from which Ukraine would withdraw are to be designated demilitarized zones where Russia could not position troops. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia lines of control would largely be frozen, with some Russian returns subject to negotiation. The plan would see the U.S. and other countries recognize Crimea and the Donbas as lawfully Russian without requiring Ukrainian recognition. The proposal reportedly ties U.S. security guarantees to limits on Ukraine's military and long-range weapons. Qatar and Turkey are reported to be mediators supporting the effort.
Read at Axios
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