Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Ukraine has delivered to U.S. President Donald Trump a confidential document outlining potential territorial concessions it may be willing to consider in a future peace agreement with Russia, a development German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described as a “major breakthrough” in long-stalled negotiations.
Merz revealed the move during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday, saying the document was sent shortly after Trump held tense phone calls with several European leaders, including Merz, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France’s President Emmanuel Macron. Trump later said “strong words” were exchanged on the call.
According to Merz, the proposal addresses “the question of what territorial concessions Ukraine is prepared to make.” However, he emphasised that only President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian public can decide what land if any should be ceded. “It would be a mistake to force the Ukrainian president into a peace that his people will not accept after four years of suffering and death,” he warned.
Further discussions with U.S. officials are scheduled for this weekend, and an international meeting on Ukraine could convene as early as next week. “Whether the American government participates or not depends very much on the drafts currently being prepared,” Merz said. Still, he indicated that Trump appeared willing to continue down the diplomatic path and recognised the need for European interests to be taken into account.
Behind the scenes, Ukrainian, U.S. and European officials are reportedly negotiating a three-part framework: a comprehensive peace plan, a security-guarantee structure and an economic recovery package. Proposals discussed include accelerating Ukraine’s entry into the EU by 2027, providing U.S. “Article 5-style” defence guarantees, establishing a demilitarised zone similar to Korea’s, conducting land-swap negotiations, restoring Ukrainian control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and freeing up to $200 billion in frozen Russian assets for reconstruction. Talks, however, remain far from final.
Trump has grown increasingly outspoken about his frustration with the pace of negotiations. He has repeatedly pressured Zelensky to accept a deal swiftly and warned that Ukraine must “be realistic,” arguing that Russia holds the advantage on the battlefield. Earlier this week, he publicly criticised both Ukraine and America’s European allies, accusing European governments of being “weak,” “politically correct” and ineffective at driving peace.
The U.S. president’s own peace initiative a 28-point plan modeled on his Gaza diplomacy—has faced major obstacles, particularly over the question of Ukrainian territory. Trump had previously set a deadline for Kyiv to accept his proposal before Thanksgiving, but the target passed without progress. Russia, eager to avoid further U.S. sanctions, has tried to signal cooperation. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow has delivered “additional proposals” on collective security guarantees, though he declined to provide details.
Meanwhile, events on the battlefield continue to shape the diplomatic landscape. Ukraine launched one of its largest drone strikes of the war overnight, forcing all four Moscow airports to suspend flights for seven hours. Airports in eight other Russian cities were also disrupted. Russia’s defence ministry claimed it intercepted 287 Ukrainian drones across several regions. The scale of the attack, analysts say, was intended to counter the Kremlin’s portrayal of Ukraine as militarily overmatched.
Despite Russia’s claims of negotiating from a position of strength, it has captured only about 20 percent of Ukraine since launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022. European leaders warned on Wednesday that peace talks have reached “a critical moment,” and Zelensky said Ukraine will coordinate closely with European partners in the coming week. “Ukraine is working swiftly,” he said.
The diplomatic push comes just as Trump escalates personal criticism of Zelensky, telling Politico that the Ukrainian leader must “get his act together” and accusing him of rejecting viable opportunities for peace. Trump also insisted that Russia holds greater leverage at the negotiating table, stating, “There can be no doubt about that. It’s Russia. It’s a much bigger country.”
As leaders navigate one of the most delicate phases of the conflict yet, officials across Europe warn that the stakes are immense. The coming days may determine whether the war edges closer to a negotiated settlement or enters a new phase of uncertainty.
