European governments, working closely with Ukraine, are finalizing a 12-point roadmap aimed at ending Russia’s war by halting combat along the existing front lines, a plan that would create the framework for a permanent ceasefire while avoiding immediate territorial concessions.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the proposal would be overseen by a new Peace Board chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump, marking Washington’s formal re-entry into mediation efforts. Under the draft plan, both Kyiv and Moscow would commit to an immediate ceasefire and suspend territorial advances, followed by the return of deported Ukrainian children, a full prisoner exchange, and the launch of reconstruction and EU integration programs for Ukraine.
Economic and Security Framework
Ukraine would receive security guarantees, reconstruction funding, and a fast-track pathway to European Union membership once the ceasefire takes effect. In parallel, sanctions on Russia would be gradually lifted, though roughly $300 billion in frozen Russian reserves would remain blocked until Moscow agrees to fund Ukraine’s rebuilding. Sanctions would automatically “snap back” if Russia violated the truce.
The plan also envisions negotiations over governance in Russian-occupied territories, but neither Europe nor Ukraine would legally recognize any annexed land as Russian.
Trump’s Mediation Push
President Trump has urged both sides to “stop where they are,” arguing that the battlefield should define temporary lines pending talks. Following calls with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Trump confirmed he intends to meet Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio held initial discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
European leaders expressed support for an immediate halt to hostilities to enable negotiations, describing the proposal as a “realistic first step” toward ending a war that has now entered its fourth year. The EU summit in Brussels later this week will review additional sanctions on the Kremlin and potential use of frozen assets to finance Ukraine.
Lingering Tensions
While Kyiv has cautiously welcomed the concept of a ceasefire “along current positions,” Zelenskiy rejected any framework requiring territorial concessions, saying, “We stay where we are, nothing more to Putin.”
Moscow, meanwhile, continues to demand control of all Donbas territory, along with the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, complicating prospects for an early breakthrough.
Even so, diplomats describe the 12-point blueprint as the most detailed peace initiative yet, reflecting a convergence of European and U.S. efforts to freeze the conflict and shift attention toward reconstruction and long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
