US Plan Stirs Outcry as Russian Strikes Kill 26

A proposed US peace plan has triggered strong concern in Kyiv, as it would require Ukraine to cede territory and sharply reduce the size of its army. The draft, revealed by a source familiar with the proposal, surfaced on Wednesday just hours after a Russian missile strike in western Ukraine killed 26 people, including three children.

The plan reportedly calls for the recognition of Crimea and other occupied regions as Russian territory, a reduction of Ukraine’s armed forces to 400,000 personnel, and the abandonment of all long-range weapons. Ukrainian officials say the terms mirror Russia’s sweeping demands, which they view as tantamount to surrender.

The initiative emerged amid one of the deadliest strikes on western Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Cruise missiles pounded residential buildings in the city of Ternopil, far from the front line, engulfing neighbourhoods in smoke and sending emergency crews searching through rubble.

Local authorities warned residents that chlorine levels in the air spiked to dangerous levels following the explosions. Among the families waiting anxiously for news of loved ones was 46-year-old Oksana, who last spoke to her 20-year-old son, Bohdan, minutes before the strike. “He said, ‘Mum, everything will be fine.’ But it was too late,” she said. Officials later confirmed that 26 people were killed and 92 injured, including 18 children.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, saying the victims “were simply at home, peacefully sleeping.” UN human rights chief Volker Turk said he was “appalled” by the scale of civilian casualties, warning that Russia’s use of powerful missiles and drone waves continues to devastate civilian areas.

The proposed US peace framework has also raised questions in Kyiv about Washington’s intentions. According to the source, it remains unclear whether the plan reflects the position of US President Donald Trump or members of his inner circle. The draft reportedly offers no clear outline of what concessions Russia would make in return.

Meanwhile, US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll arrived in Kyiv with a senior Pentagon delegation to discuss ways to bolster Ukraine’s defence and explore potential steps toward a negotiated settlement. Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrsky, said he stressed the need to strengthen air defence, expand long-range strike capabilities and stabilise the front.

Reports have suggested that Washington and Moscow may have been engaged in discreet discussions about ending the war, though the Kremlin said there was “nothing new” in any peace efforts.

With winter approaching and Russia intensifying strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, Kyiv is working to revive international support for a credible peace process. Zelensky visited Turkey in hopes of re-engaging the United States, though a US envoy expected to attend did not join the talks. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged both sides to resume negotiations, though recent rounds have yielded progress only in prisoner exchanges.

On the battlefield, Russia continues to make slow but steady advances, insisting it will keep fighting unless Ukraine accepts its terms. Ukraine, meanwhile, hopes Washington can help pressure Moscow into meaningful negotiations, including through sanctions and security guarantees.