Updates on the Russia-Ukraine War: Peace Plan, ATACMS Strike, and EU Funding

The Contentious 28-Point Peace Plan

Western media sources say the US government, under President Donald Trump, is thinking about a new 28-point peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The White House, State Department, and Kyiv haven't verified this. But the proposal's details, which were reportedly created in private talks between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian government advisor Kirill Dmitriyev, have been widely shared.

Key Points and Reactions:

Outlets like The Guardian, Reuters, and The Washington Post say the suggested plan is very controversial. It seems to outline major concessions for Ukraine, such as:

• Giving up some territories, like Donbas.

• Significantly reducing the size of Ukraine's military.

• Putting limits on Western weapon shipments and giving up hopes of joining NATO.

Ukrainian officials and US experts have criticized these points. Some say the plan is a complete surrender that shows Russia's most extreme demands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is said to be unhappy with the terms but welcomes President Trump's dedication to finding a way to end the war.

In the meantime, European allies have resisted. EU foreign ministers met in Brussels and stressed that any peace effort must be agreed upon with Ukraine and European partners. They emphasized that peace should not mean surrender. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted that difficult, but necessary compromises are needed from both sides to reach a lasting peace.

The Trump administration reportedly sent a high-level Pentagon group, including Army Secretary Dan Driskoll and Army Chief of Staff Randy George, to Kyiv. This happened as Ukraine faces growing stress to accept the plan.

Ukraine’s Use of ATACMS Missiles

The Russian Defence Ministry says that Ukraine attacked Voronezh on November 18 with four US-made long-range ATACMS missiles. The Russian Defence Ministry claims that all missiles were stopped. However, debris damaged the roofs of civilian buildings, including an orphanage and a center for elderly people.

The day before, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine verified that it used ATACMS to hit a military target inside Russia. This was the first time these US-provided long-range weapons were used for this purpose since the war began.

EU Financial Aid Options

The European Union is thinking about three ways to cover Ukraine’s financial needs for the next two years. These needs are estimated at €71.7 billion for the coming year alone, covering military and financial aid. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the proposals:

1. Individual Grants: EU members would voluntarily give grants to the bloc based on their GDP. The Commission would then give these to Kyiv. This puts direct pressure on national budgets and depends on everyone agreeing politically.

2. EU Borrowing: The EU would use its top credit rating to borrow money from financial markets and give it to Ukraine as credit. Kyiv would only be expected to repay the loans after getting money from Russia for damages.

3. Reparation Credits: Many members think this is the fairest option. It involves giving loans to Ukraine secured by the €176 billion in frozen Russian assets.

The Reparation Credits option faces legal and political problems, including concerns from Belgium. The main risk is that if EU sanctions are not renewed, Russia could sue to get its assets back. This could force EU members to cover the cost of the loans given to Ukraine.