In nearly four years of full-scale war, these are the major initiatives to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including Trump’s latest peace plan
U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a new plan to end Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. In fits and starts, Trump has been negotiating for a ceasefire or peace treaty between Moscow and Kyiv since he returned to the White House in January. Let’s review the timeline of various proposals over the years and compare them with what we know is currently on the table.
2021: Putin’s ultimatum
When: December 2021
What was happening at the time: Russia masses troops at Ukraine’s border; the U.S. intelligence community publicly warns that a full-scale invasion is being prepared; and Washington threatens Russia with “decisive economic and other measures.”
Where everyone stood: On December 17, 2021, Russia’s Foreign Ministry published draft agreements with the United States and NATO on mutual security guarantees. Among other things, Russia demanded:
- a halt to NATO expansion, especially a pledge not to admit Ukraine;
- no additional NATO forces or weapons deployed in Eastern European states that joined the alliance after the USSR’s collapse;
- an end to U.S. military cooperation with post-Soviet countries and a ban on U.S. military bases on their territory.
The result: The United States and NATO say Russia’s proposals amount to an unacceptable ultimatum that would restrict the freedom of international agreements and the sovereignty of other countries, including Ukraine.
2022: Istanbul
When: March–April 2022
What was happening at the time: On February 24, Russia attacks Ukraine but fails to capture Kyiv and other key cities, despite widespread assumptions in Moscow and the West that the nation would fall in a matter of days. Europe and the U.S. respond with sweeping sanctions on Russia.
Where everyone stood: On April 15, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul reached a draft agreement that included:
- a ceasefire;
- Ukraine’s “permanent neutrality,” meaning it would not join any military blocs, including NATO;
- a radical reduction in the size of Ukraine’s armed forces;
- security guarantees for Ukraine provided by the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (Russia, the U.S., China, France, and the U.K.);
- recognition of Russian as an official language in Ukraine.
Ukraine also proposed abandoning any attempt to resolve Crimea’s status by force and allowing 10–15 years for a diplomatic settlement.
The result: At the start of the talks, Russia withdrew its forces from Kyiv and Chernihiv as a “gesture of goodwill.” The agreement was never signed. The Ukrainian side believed the draft was merely a ploy — an attempt by Russia to buy time before launching new attacks. European allies, especially the U.K. under Prime Minister Boris Johnson, opposed the deal, calling it a de facto capitulation even though Ukraine had not been defeated on the battlefield.
During the talks, news breaks of the mass killings in Bucha, which deeply affect President Zelensky and his administration (as documented by Zelensky’s biographer, Simon Shuster) and alter the emotional climate of negotiations.
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2022: The “Ukrainian peace formula”
When: September 2022
What was happening at the time: Ukrainian forces launch a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region; G7 countries agree to impose a price cap on Russian oil; and Russia announces a “partial mobilization.”
Where everyone stood: At the U.N. General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined Ukraine’s demands. In addition to a ceasefire, the release of all prisoners, and the return of all deported people, Zelensky’s “Ukrainian Peace Formula” included two key points:
- restoration of Ukraine’s borders as of 2014 (meaning the return of Crimea);
- punishment of Russia for aggression.
The latter included the seizure of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and the creation of a special international tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
The result: The “Ukrainian Peace Formula” articulated Ukraine’s maximalist demands. A few days later, Russia announces the annexation of Ukraine’s Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions (though it had not fully captured any of them).
2025: Riyadh
When: March 2025
What was happening at the time: After Donald Trump returns to the White House on a pledge to end the Russian–Ukrainian war in 24 hours, he clashes openly with Zelensky, before reconciling and securing an agreement granting the United States priority access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.
Where everyone stood: This time, there are no direct Russian–Ukrainian negotiations. Under President Trump, the United States assumes the role of mediator: the American delegation meets separately with the Russian and Ukrainian sides. U.S. officials try to secure an end to strikes on energy infrastructure, a truce in the Black Sea, and lay the groundwork for future direct talks.
The result: A halt to hostilities in the Black Sea is announced. Both sides express readiness for a temporary ceasefire, but the war continues. Europe is largely excluded from this process: unlike leaders in Germany, France, and the U.K., Donald Trump sees himself not as Ukraine’s ally but as a neutral third party and appears ready to discuss Russia’s demands — even its territorial claims in Ukraine.
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2025: Istanbul
When: May–June 2025
What was happening at the time: Washington again acts as a mediator. Trump presses both Putin and Zelensky to attend, but only the latter shows up.
Where everyone stood ↓
Russia’s demands:
- international recognition of its claims on annexed Ukrainian territories;
- Ukraine’s geopolitical neutrality;
- a reduction in Ukraine’s armed forces;
- official status for the Russian language in Ukraine;
- lifting Western sanctions on Russia;
- a renunciation of claims for compensation for war-related damages.
Ukraine’s demands:
- international security guarantees;
- recognition of its right to join NATO;
- the return of all annexed territories.
In essence, both sides again traded “maximalist demands.” Zelensky also insisted that territorial matters would remain unresolved until Putin agreed to meet with him directly.
The result: The sides agreed to exchange prisoners and the bodies of the dead, but the war continues.
2025, today: Trump
When: November 2025
What’s happening now: On the front lines, Russia is slowly but steadily advancing toward full control of the Donbas. Ukraine is engulfed in a corruption scandal threatening a political crisis for the Zelensky administration.
Where everyone stands: Trump’s new plan incorporates elements of Russia’s “maximalist demands”:
- international recognition of Russia’s annexed Ukrainian territories;
- a pledge that Ukraine will not join NATO for at least at least a decade;
- a reduction in Ukraine’s armed forces;
- official status for the Russian language in Ukraine.
Ukraine, by contrast, is offered only conditional security guarantees.
