Trump, Zelensky and the ‘Russian wish list’ peace deal | Perspective

US President Donald Trump's latest push for peace in Ukraine has raised eyebrows, with many questioning whether his plan is genuinely aimed at ending the war or if it's just a Russian "wish list" wrapped up in American diplomacy. During a recent visit to the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, Trump complained that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had not even read the latest U.S. peace proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A 28-point peace framework has been emerging from talks between Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin-linked figures, with the document asking Ukraine to surrender the Donbas region, accept Russian control of Crimea, and abandon any attempts to join NATO – demands that closely mirror Vladimir Putin's maximal expectations. This has led some U.S. senators to suggest that the text is not actually an American plan but rather a "wish list" drawn up by Russia and handed over by Washington.

While Trump officials claim that Ukraine's core positions are understood in Washington, Zelensky has stated that his country cannot accept a deal that legitimizes Russian land grabs or leaves it without credible security guarantees. The Ukrainian leader is now bracing himself for what he believes will be an extremely difficult sell to his own public.

Europe is similarly divided on the matter, with some leaders open to revising plans that drop most military restrictions on Ukraine but key figures in London, Paris, and Berlin warning privately against agreements that reward aggression or leave Kyiv unable to defend itself. The diplomatic war is intensifying as Trump pushes for an endgame before either Ukraine or Europe feels confident it's safe.

The far right sees Trump's gambit as overdue realism, while more traditional conservatives are cautiously supportive but still grappling with moral clarity over Putin's role in the conflict. However, a faction of the GOP hawks has dismissed the plan as "Russia's wish list," accusing Trump of giving Putin too much leverage at the expense of a democratic ally.

On the left, Ukrainian and Western commentators see this as appeasement dressed up in a better brand – with some describing it as a national shame and strategic disaster for Ukraine. Think-tank experts warn that any plan drawn primarily between Washington and the Kremlin risks sidelining Ukraine and fracturing the Western coalition.

The outcome is far from certain, but one thing is clear: Trump's push for peace has set the stage for an all-out diplomatic showdown in which the battle lines are being redrawn by who gets to define "peace."

trump's latest move on ukraine is a total mess he's basically handing russia the upper hand and expecting zelensky to swallow it whole no wonder europe is divided, usa's diplomats seem completely clueless this peace proposal reeks of russian 'wishes' wrapped in american diplomacy think-tank experts are right on the money, any plan relying solely on washington and kremlin talks is a recipe for disaster

I'm low-key concerned about this whole Ukraine situation . It feels like we're playing into Putin's hands and that Trump's plan is just a way to get Russia on board with something without actually getting Ukraine the support it needs . I mean, surrendering Donbas and Crimea? That's not exactly a recipe for peace . And what's up with Zelensky being told his country can't have credible security guarantees? Doesn't that just sound like a bunch of diplomatic mumbo-jumbo to me? I'm also a bit tired of the back-and-forth between Trump and Putin – it feels like they're speaking two different languages or something . Anyway, this whole thing has got me feeling pretty anxious about what's gonna happen next

man this whole situation with trump and ukraine is getting crazy! like, is he even trying to help or just playing russian politics as a side hustle? 28-point peace framework sounds legit but only if it's all about ukraine's safety and security. the fact that it's so similar to putin's "wish list" is not cool . america needs to stand by its allies, not just give russia what they want. think-tanks are right, if washington and kremlin do this deal without ukraine's input, it'll be a disaster . trump's got some explaining to do!

can't believe trump thinks he can just pawn off russia's demands on ukraine meanwhile, zelensky is stuck trying to sell a bad deal to his own people and europe is like "hold up, no thanks" it's like washington has given up on supporting its ally in eastern europe and now it's all about appeasing russia. newsflash: that's not peace, that's just enabling putin's aggression

I'm low-key worried about this whole Ukraine situation . Trump's plan seems kinda shady, like someone's pulling a fast one on everyone . The fact that it's basically mirroring Putin's maximal expectations is sketchy . I mean, what's in it for Ukraine if they're just gonna have to surrender their land and security guarantees? It's not like we're getting a clear understanding of their goals or anything . And Europe is all over the map on this one, which doesn't help . Trump needs to get his priorities straight and figure out what's truly at stake here . #TrumpUkrainePlan #PeaceAtWhatCost

So I'm reading this about Trump's peace plan and it just doesn't add up, you know? I mean, Ukraine is basically being asked to surrender two of its most important regions and hand over control of a third to Russia. That sounds like a pretty clear "wish list" to me It's like Trump is setting the table for Putin to get everything he wants and just hoping that Ukraine and Europe don't realize it.

And what really worries me is that some US senators are already calling this plan out as being drawn up by Russia, not the US. That's a pretty serious accusation And if true, then Trump's whole "peace" initiative looks like a total farce. I mean, what kind of diplomacy says to a country, "Hey Ukraine, just give us everything we want and don't bother trying to defend yourself"?

I think this is where things are going to get really messy. Trump's plan might be seen as some kind of "realism" by the far right, but for everyone else it looks like a strategic disaster for Ukraine. And if Europe gets involved, we're basically talking about a full-blown diplomatic war on our hands It's not exactly the most hopeful outlook.

This whole US-Ukraine situation with Trump is a big mess . I think it's super suspicious that Ukraine wasn't even read the latest US peace proposal, and now everyone's wondering if this plan was just made up by Russia and presented as American diplomacy . The fact that it demands Ukraine give up Donbas and Crimea, and abandon NATO – that's basically Putin's wish list!

I'm not surprised, though, that Europe is divided on this. I mean, some leaders are open to revising plans to help Ukraine, but others are worried about rewarding aggression or leaving Kyiv defenseless . And Trump's got his own faction of supporters and haters – some think he's being realistic, while others see it as appeasement .

One thing that's for sure is that this diplomatic showdown is gonna get messy . Who gets to define "peace" in this scenario? Ukraine? Russia? The US? It's like the whole world is waiting with bated breath to see how this all plays out

I'm low-key shocked that Trump's plan is actually closer to Putin's demands than expected . Like, isn't this the guy who got elected on a platform of stopping Russian aggression? Now he's pushing for Ukraine to just roll over and accept Russia's control? That's not exactly what I'd call "peace" . And don't even get me started on how Ukraine is going to feel about being forced to give up their land .

And can we talk about the timing of this for a second? This comes out just as the US is trying to figure out its own foreign policy strategy, and now it's like Trump is handing Putin a free pass to do whatever he wants? That's not how diplomacy works, guys . The GOP hawks might think it's "realism" but I think it's just more of the same old Russia playing hardball .

I'm also kinda tired of all the "appeasement" talk on both sides. Like, can't we just try to find a compromise that doesn't involve either side getting completely screwed over? This diplomatic war is already heating up and I don't see it cooling down anytime soon .

I'm telling you, this whole Ukraine situation is a setup . Trump thinks he can just hand over Ukraine to Putin and call it a day? Not buying it. This 28-point peace framework sounds like a total Russian script to me. They want Ukraine to surrender the Donbas region and accept Russian control of Crimea? No way, Jose . That's not peace, that's surrender.

And what's with all this "wish list" business? Who wrote this plan? Russia? Washington? It doesn't matter who, it matters what's in it. And I don't like it . Trump's always talking about freedom and democracy, but when it comes down to it, he's willing to let Ukraine get carved up at the negotiating table .

I'm not buying this "overdue realism" nonsense either . What Europe needs is a strong stance against Russian aggression, not some watered-down deal that benefits Putin and his pals. The far right might see it as realistic, but I call foul . Ukraine deserves better than to be used as a pawn in some great game of geopolitics .

And what about the Western coalition? Are we really just going to sit back and let Russia get away with this? Think-tank experts are warning us about this all the time, but nobody's listening . It's time for Trump to come clean and tell us exactly what he's playing at .

I'm seeing a lot of heat on this one, folks . Can we calm down and think about what's really going on here? Trump's plan might be confusing, but let's break it down: is it just about appeasing Putin or can it actually lead to real progress? The Ukrainian leader's concerns are valid - they want credible security guarantees, not a deal that legitimizes Russian land grabs. And Europe's got its own doubts .

It's easy to say "Russia's wish list" but what if Trump genuinely believes this plan will work? Can we just wait and see how Ukraine sells it to their public? We can't afford to dismiss the idea of peace without considering all the possibilities . Maybe this is an opportunity for us to rethink our approach to conflict resolution. Let's not rush into judgment - let's give diplomacy a chance

I mean come on, this is just ridiculous. It sounds like we're giving Putin exactly what he wants – total control of Ukraine, Crimea, and Donbas. What's next? Is Trump thinking that a few empty words are gonna make all the difference here? Newsflash, Donald: Ukraine isn't some cheap consolation prize you can hand out to Russia in exchange for some "peace" that only benefits Putin.

And don't even get me started on the diplomatic fallout. We're basically undermining our own ally's position and opening ourselves up to all sorts of criticism from Europe. It's not just about Ukraine, it's about our own credibility as a global player. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start trading in our values for some fleeting moment of "peace"? This is a disaster waiting to happen and Trump needs to take a step back and rethink this whole approach ASAP.

I'm kinda worried about this whole situation . It seems like the US is trying to find a middle ground, but some people think it's just a Russian plan with American backing . I get why Trump wants peace, but Zelensky has valid concerns about security guarantees and Russia's land grabs . Europe's all over the place too - some leaders are open to revising plans, while others are like "no way, Joe" .

I'm not sure what to make of the far right calling it "realism", but I think we need to be careful about who gets to define peace . It's not just about Ukraine or Russia; it's about the whole Western coalition being on the same page . Think-tank experts are right that any plan drawn by Washington and Moscow might sideline Ukraine and fracture alliances .

I wish Trump could get more input from both sides, you know? We can't just rush into a deal without making sure it's fair for everyone involved . Maybe we should take a step back and think about what "peace" really means in this context . That way, we can find a solution that works for everyone – not just one side or the other .

I'm low-key worried about this whole Ukraine situation... https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-for-ukraine-is-it-real-or-russian-wish-list/

I mean, the US is basically asking Ukraine to roll over on its own territory and security interests for a deal that doesn't even address some of the major issues in Crimea... It's like they're giving Putin exactly what he wants, while pretending it's all coming from a good place.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm not buying this "genuine peace" narrative. Something smells fishy here...

omg, this whole situation with Trump and Ukraine is sooo complicated ! i mean, i get where he's trying to broker some kinda peace, but like, can't we just stick to our original plan and support Ukraine instead of giving in to Russia's demands? I'm all for finding a solution that works for everyone, but this 28-point framework seems super biased towards Russia... it's like they're trying to erase Ukraine's sovereignty or something!

anywayz, i think the whole thing is getting way too politicized and it's hard to tell what Trump's actual goals are. is he really trying to end the war, or is this just a PR stunt? and what about the Ukrainian people, who are the ones affected most by all this? shouldn't we be prioritizing their needs instead of getting caught up in the diplomatic drama?

i'm keeping an eye on this situation though, coz it's like, super crucial for international relations and stuff...

I'm totally confused about this whole Ukraine situation . It seems like Trump's plan is either really genuine or completely bought into by Russia... and honestly, I don't see how it can be both . On one hand, the 28-point peace framework sounds super reasonable, but if it includes giving up control of Donbas and Crimea to Russia, that's a pretty huge ask for Ukraine .

I get why Trump wants to find a peaceful solution, but I also get why Zelensky is hesitant – it's like he's being asked to sign away his country's sovereignty for the sake of peace. And what's with this whole "wish list" thing? Is it really that cut-and-dried or does everyone have different opinions on how to approach this?

The problem is, everyone's got a stake in this conflict – Russia's got its own interests, Ukraine's got its own security concerns, and the West is trying to keep its cool. But what if Trump's plan is just gonna get derailed by all these conflicting views? It feels like we're running on a tightrope with no safety net.

I'm not sure I buy into this whole "appeasement" thing – it sounds too simplistic for something as complex as geopolitics. And what about the national security implications? Do we really want to risk fracturing our alliances over Ukraine?

I'm genuinely confused about what's going on here. If Ukraine can't accept a deal that legitimates Russian land grabs, how can we expect them to take it lying down? We're supposed to believe that the US is making this plan with the best interests of Ukraine in mind? It sounds like a straight-up trade-off: give up Donbas and Crimea for peace. That doesn't sit right with me at all.

Sources, anyone? I want to see some concrete proof that Trump's team is genuinely working towards Ukrainian interests, not just some cozy deal between Russia and the US. The lack of transparency on this one is making my head spin.

I'm not buying the "Russia's wish list" narrative from some US senators either. Have they even read the proposal? We need to see more critical analysis, not just blanket accusations without backing. This whole thing reeks of a diplomatic free-for-all, and I'm not sure who's coming out on top in the end...