CW Column: The War in Ukraine

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CWA # 1858
CW Column: The War in Ukraine
A weighed-down peace plan, a missing European stance and Russia’s new demands

  Padmashree Anandhan
28 November 2025

What happened this week?
On 27 November, at a security conference in Kyrgyzstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the US-proposed 28-point peace plan. He said: “Overall, we agree that this could be used as a basis for future agreements.” However, he called signing the deal under the current leadership “pointless” as presidential elections have not been held. Putin stated that Russia will stop its operations if Ukraine exit their occupied areas. He added: “And if they don’t, we will make them,” indicating the increasing number of Russian troops.

On 27 November, US President's envoy Steve Witkoff faced sharp criticism from several congressional Republicans regarding his approach to a proposed peace plan for Ukraine. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: “This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I’m really sceptical it will lead to peace.” 

On the same day, the Institute for the Study of War reported that in 2025, Russian forces had taken control of an average of 467 square kilometres (about 180 square miles) each month. According to the report, Moscow’s troops are fighting intensely across four crucial settlements in the Donetsk region: Lyman, Siversk, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk. Losing these settlements would weaken Ukraine’s defences and supply lines, risking the settlements, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

On the same day, the European Commission president raised concerns that Russia shows “no signs of true willingness to end the conflict.” She emphasised: “If we legitimise and formalise the undermining of borders today, we’re opening the door to more wars tomorrow, and we cannot allow that to happen.” 

On 26 November, US President Donald Trump claimed that his plan to resolve the war in Ukraine has been “fine-tuned,” and he’s sending envoy Witkoff to meet Putin, along with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who will meet Ukrainian officials. He said: “Looking at the situation, it seems to be going in one direction.” He added: “I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this war is FINAL or close to it.”

On 26 November, Russian forces conducted a mass drone attack on Zaporizhzhia, a southeastern city in Ukraine, injuring 12 people and severely damaging buildings and vehicles. This strike comes after a missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure a day earlier, which resulted in seven deaths and 21 injuries in Kyiv.

On the same date, leaders from the UK, France, and Germany, following their “coalition of the willing,” voiced support for Trump’s efforts to end the war. They emphasised that any solution must fully involve Ukraine. They jointly stated: “This remains one of the fundamental principles for maintaining stability and peace in Europe and beyond.” 

On 24 November, Europeans submitted a modified version of the US peace plan for Ukraine that adjusts proposed limits on Kyiv’s armed forces and territorial concessions. The alternative document, prepared, calls for capping Ukraine's military at 800,000 instead of the 600,000 proposed by the US.

On 23 November 23, France’s President Emmanuel Macron said: “We know that if there’s no deterrence, the Russians will return and break their promises.” 

What are the issues?
1. Ukraine faces pressure to accept the proposal
Ukraine’s stance on the US-backed peace plan is complex, as Ukraine continues to stress its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Despite Ukraine taking part in discussions to keep Russia away from placing extreme demands, Russia remains determined to make Ukraine give up territory and limit its defence. Ukraine sees making deals under pressure as risky, because it goes against the international norm that borders should not be changed through force. This puts them in a tough spot as they can neither walk away nor accept the deal. 

2. Push for the deal by the US
The negotiations led by Witkoff are suspected to have involved some Russian input. This has brought back significant backlash within Washington and shaken the confidence of US allies. There’s a growing concern that the diplomatic pace is becoming more disconnected from the realities on the ground, which raises concern that the drive for a deal may outdo the quest for a long-lasting peace.

3. Europe’s struggle to assert influence
Europe has very limited influence in this negotiation process, even though the war’s outcome directly impacts them. European leaders have showcased a strong stance against several key elements of the US draft, cautioning that endorsing territorial grabs could destabilise the continent. European countries suggest higher troop caps for Ukraine and oppose forced territorial concessions. They insist that peace should be dictated by Ukraine; their fragmented influence highlights a broader issue of being sidelined in discussions that could define its security landscape.

4. Russia keeps steady on the ground and table
Russian forces have been capturing territory more swiftly in recent weeks and ramping up attacks on military, energy and civilian targets across Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. These aim to weaken Ukraine’s defence capabilities, communication and logistics while keeping rigid in the negotiations. The dual push shows how Russia sees time and pressure as advantages.

About the author
Padmashree Anandhan is a Project Associate at NIAS. 

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