Ukrainian soldiers, civilians and politicians tell The i Paper whether they think Donald Trump’s steep price for peace with Russia is worth it
Frontline Ukrainian soldiers have said they would be willing to accept some territorial concessions but only under “equal terms” with Moscow, as peace deal talks continue at pace.
Details of the peace proposal on the table are unclear, but it has been agreed on by Ukraine; Russia has said it views some elements “positively” while others would require “specialised discussion”.
The current version is update of a 28-point plan developed by Trump and Russia, which contained a number of Kremlin positions including large territorial cessations for Kyiv, limitations on its army and a ban on future Nato membership.
Analysts told The i Paper the plan would have left Ukraine a “tethered goat” for future invasions by Russia and agreement would be “suicide” for Kyiv.
This initial deal was tacitly rejected by Ukraine and its European allies, who instead presented their own proposal removing many of the Kremlin’s maximalist demands.
The plan now under consideration is expected to be closer in nature to the European plan. In its 19 points it is still likely to include territorial concessions to Russia and a limit on the Ukrainian army, but only to 800,000, close to its current size, which its President, Volodymyr Zelensky, says is 880,000.
It would also likely include steps to reintegrate Russia into the international economy and society, with some lifting of sanctions and a return to the G8.
Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that there were no “final versions” of the peace plan and that further discussions with the US would take place in Moscow next week. “In general, we agree that this can be the basis for future agreements,” he said, adding that Russia had received a variant of the plan discussed by the US and Ukraine in Geneva.
One Ukrainian soldier told The i Paper that “we understand that the war must be ended, but the conditions must be equal”.
The serving drone pilot said he would accept territorial concessions in return for peace because “there is no other way” but that Russia should accept that Ukraine should be able to join Nato.
The soldier said he and his comrades were not optimistic about a deal being reached, saying he thought Russia would not accept the current deal but “really hope[s] so”.
Another frontline soldier said he did not believe the ceasefire would come to fruition and that Putin would push for further concessions from Ukraine.
“Russia can take much more than what is written, so why not to try? The conditions – if they will be held – are not so bad for us,” he said. “Russia can demand much much more.”
‘This is a civilisational choice: darkness or light’
Vladyslav Faraponov, president of the Kyiv-based Institute of American Studies, said that Ukrainians were “neither relieved nor frustrated by the emergence of a new ‘peace plan’, whether it consists of 28 or 19 points”.
“We have grown used to such developments, as numerous plans have been drafted since 2022. While they are written and rewritten, we continue to hear bombs and drones over our heads,” he said.
“Just this morning another report confirmed that a child died in a Russian attack on Ternopil – a city nearly 700 kilometres from the front line. This war has never been only about territory. It is about a way of life, a civilisational choice: whether to live in darkness, as Russia does, or in the light, as the West does. Ukraine has chosen the latter.”
Faranponov said that the Trump administration deserved credit for updating the peace plan after discussions with Ukraine and its European allies in Geneva last weekend.
“I would be relieved to see Ukraine sign a separate agreement with the United States, even if Russia were to do the same. In that case, we would get what Zelensky always wanted: a specific mediator and a party to which Kyiv can apply to if needed,” he said.
“However, any such agreement must be built on a genuine ceasefire. It is unrealistic to expect Ukraine to remain silent while Russian missiles and drones continue to strike civilians across the country.”
‘This peace deal just means a prolonged war’
In the Ukrainian capital, some civilians said they would not be willing to accept territorial concessions, believing it would simply lead to further conflict in the future.
“The sentiment among Ukrainians is pretty much the same: a ‘peace deal’ with land concessions is, in fact, just a prolonged war,” said Anna Ustenko, 24, who works in communications in Kyiv.
“Judging by the experience of the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the invasion of eastern Ukraine, leaving things ‘as they are’ simply means allowing something much bigger and much worse to happen in the future.
“Until Russia has a legitimate reason to compromise, I don’t think any peace plan can truly be enforced.”
Ustenko said that to truly end the violence, Ukraine needed “strong allies” with a clear agreement that any future attack against Ukraine would be considered an attack on all.
“As the strongest military power globally, the United States needs to play a central role in guaranteeing Ukraine’s safety against Russian aggression. This seems to be the only realistic scenario,” she said.
Daria Nefedova, 30, a marketing manager, said she would not want to agree to Trump’s 28-point plan in its last known form, mostly due to the surrender of territory, but felt conflicted.
“At the same time, I really want finally, as soon as possible, to have peace and real peace in Ukraine without a frozen conflict,” she said.
Sirko Yulia, a member of Ukraine’s Parliament who is Vice Chair of the opposition Holos political party, said that Trump’s 28-plan proposal was “a provocation and sabotage” which “will lead to another war in a few years”.
“Even if Zelensky, under pressure, were to accept and sign it, the Ukrainian people would not,” Yulia said.
The politician said she supported its use as a “preliminary framework” to draft a “real peace plan that would lead to sustainable peace.”
Others said they had tried to distance themselves from the deal.
“My personal response to that is that I try to give to it as little emotional response as I can,” said Angelik Ustymenko, a 31-year-old filmmaker, who described Trump’s initial proposal as “horrible”.
“[I] just put all my rage into action. Yesterday I started fundraiser for my brother who is in the army. I just focus my actions, or focus my emotions and rage into action that actually can change something.”
