A new United States peace proposal has sparked outrage in Kyiv after reports indicated that Washington is pressing Ukraine to surrender territory and drastically reduce its military strength.
According to a source who spoke with AFP, the draft proposal calls for Ukraine to recognise Russia’s control of Crimea and other occupied regions, cut its army to 400,000 personnel, and give up all long range weapons. Ukrainian officials say the terms closely mirror Russia’s long standing demands and amount to asking Ukraine to capitulate.
The proposal surfaced as Ukraine suffered one of its deadliest attacks in western regions since the war began. Russian cruise missiles struck the city of Ternopil at dawn, killing 26 people, including three children, and injuring 92 more. Emergency crews searched for survivors through thick smoke and destroyed apartment blocks, while officials warned residents to stay indoors due to a dangerous spike in chlorine levels. President Volodymyr Zelensky mourned the victims, saying they were “people who were simply at home, peacefully sleeping.”
The news of the strike came as President Zelensky attempted to revive peace discussions during a visit to Turkey. However, his efforts faltered when a US envoy expected to join the talks failed to attend. The source familiar with the peace proposal said it was unclear whether the draft reflected President Donald Trump’s direct position or that of his inner circle. The Kremlin refused to comment on the reported negotiations, insisting that nothing new had emerged on the peace process.
Meanwhile, a high level Pentagon delegation led by US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll arrived in Kyiv for consultations with Ukrainian defence leaders. Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrsky, said he held “productive” talks with the US officials and emphasised the need to strengthen air defence, expand long range strike capabilities and stabilise the front line. He said these measures were essential to weakening Russia’s offensive capacity and preventing more civilian casualties.
Human rights groups and international officials also condemned the Ternopil strike. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said he was “appalled” by the number of civilian deaths and warned that Russia’s escalating use of drones and long range missiles continues to endanger urban populations. Ukraine’s foreign minister Andriy Sybiga criticised Moscow’s attacks, saying they expose the reality behind Russia’s so called peace terms. The strike comes as Russia intensifies attempts to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
With Russian forces making slow advances on the battlefield and occupying nearly one fifth of Ukraine’s territory, Kyiv is urging global powers to exert stronger pressure on Moscow. Turkey has called for new talks in Istanbul, but Ukraine says meaningful progress will require firm action from Washington, including sanctions, to push Russia toward genuine negotiations. Zelensky also said he hopes to resume prisoner exchanges before the end of the year, even as fresh attacks highlight the ongoing brutality of the nearly four year conflict.
