Donald Trump’s Christmas gift to Vladimir Putin - a peace plan that reads like a Kremlin script - may finally be dead, but the fact that it was ever conceived is a stark reminder of the failure of US diplomacy in Ukraine. The 28-point peace plan unveiled by Trump last week has been met with fierce resistance from Ukrainian negotiators who are trying to "rework" the document into one more favorable to their country.
The original plan, negotiated by Putin's confidant Kirill Dmitriev and US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner - who have no experience in Ukraine but were handpicked by Trump - is a far cry from what Ukraine needs. The plan requires Ukraine to cap its armed forces at 600,000, while Russia faces no comparable constraints. It also demands that Ukraine amend its constitution to drop its commitment to joining NATO, despite Putin's long-standing concerns about the alliance.
But perhaps the most egregious aspect of the plan is its recognition of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk as de facto Russian territories, granting Putin control over parts of Donetsk he hasn't even captured. The plan also freezes battle lines, allowing Russia to retain territory seized in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and grants Russia full immunity from prosecution for war crimes.
The fact that the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has been largely absent from these negotiations only adds to the sense of betrayal. It is a stark contrast to the involvement of European countries, which have stepped up support for Ukraine despite its disadvantages in the conflict.
But it's not all doom and gloom. Reports suggest that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been holding talks with Andriy Yermak, his closest adviser, to rework the plan based on Ukraine's reactions - although Rubio has denied this. Trump accused Ukraine of ingratitude but added that the plan was "not my final offer" and that his deadline could be extended.
The fact that the plan didn't fly is a welcome development for Ukraine, and a significant blow to Putin's ambitions. It's also a reminder that the US should not have been so quick to abandon its ally in this time of need. Despite Trump's claims that some commentators argue the war in Ukraine is futile, it's clear that the international community needs to continue to stand by Ukraine until a just and lasting peace can be achieved.
The fact remains that Russia has suffered significant losses in the conflict - over 1 million casualties, nearly 150,000 confirmed dead, and more than 23,000 pieces of equipment destroyed or damaged. Ukrainian deep strikes on Russian refineries have also caused fuel shortages, long lines at petrol stations, panic buying, higher prices, rationing and a cut in refining capacity by up to a fifth.
In the end, it's clear that Trump's peace plan was always a bad idea, and its failure is a welcome development. But as the conflict drags on into its third year, there's no room for complacency or celebration. The international community needs to continue to work towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, one that recognizes the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people and rejects Russia's claims of dominance.
The original plan, negotiated by Putin's confidant Kirill Dmitriev and US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner - who have no experience in Ukraine but were handpicked by Trump - is a far cry from what Ukraine needs. The plan requires Ukraine to cap its armed forces at 600,000, while Russia faces no comparable constraints. It also demands that Ukraine amend its constitution to drop its commitment to joining NATO, despite Putin's long-standing concerns about the alliance.
But perhaps the most egregious aspect of the plan is its recognition of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk as de facto Russian territories, granting Putin control over parts of Donetsk he hasn't even captured. The plan also freezes battle lines, allowing Russia to retain territory seized in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and grants Russia full immunity from prosecution for war crimes.
The fact that the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has been largely absent from these negotiations only adds to the sense of betrayal. It is a stark contrast to the involvement of European countries, which have stepped up support for Ukraine despite its disadvantages in the conflict.
But it's not all doom and gloom. Reports suggest that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been holding talks with Andriy Yermak, his closest adviser, to rework the plan based on Ukraine's reactions - although Rubio has denied this. Trump accused Ukraine of ingratitude but added that the plan was "not my final offer" and that his deadline could be extended.
The fact that the plan didn't fly is a welcome development for Ukraine, and a significant blow to Putin's ambitions. It's also a reminder that the US should not have been so quick to abandon its ally in this time of need. Despite Trump's claims that some commentators argue the war in Ukraine is futile, it's clear that the international community needs to continue to stand by Ukraine until a just and lasting peace can be achieved.
The fact remains that Russia has suffered significant losses in the conflict - over 1 million casualties, nearly 150,000 confirmed dead, and more than 23,000 pieces of equipment destroyed or damaged. Ukrainian deep strikes on Russian refineries have also caused fuel shortages, long lines at petrol stations, panic buying, higher prices, rationing and a cut in refining capacity by up to a fifth.
In the end, it's clear that Trump's peace plan was always a bad idea, and its failure is a welcome development. But as the conflict drags on into its third year, there's no room for complacency or celebration. The international community needs to continue to work towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, one that recognizes the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people and rejects Russia's claims of dominance.
... I mean, Trump's plan was always a bit off, but I guess it's no surprise it flopped 
. It just goes to show how out of touch the US has been with what's really going on in Ukraine. Remember when Biden was all about "leading from behind" during the Obama days? 
At least then there was some semblance of coordination. Now, it feels like they're just playing catch-up.
... but Ukraine's got more guts than I gave 'em credit for. And you know what really gets my goat? Marco Rubio's MIA during these negotiations 
... it's like the US is just letting Russia walk all over them.
. The fact that this plan didn't fly is definitely a win for Ukraine, but we shouldn't be celebrating yet 
. We need to keep pushing for a real peace deal, not just some half-baked solution. It's like, remember when we used to talk about "diplomacy" back in the day? 
Now it feels like just another way for Russia to get what they want.
... Ukraine needs support, and we need to keep giving it. The sooner we can find a real solution, the better 
. Like, can't Trump see that this plan was a total cop-out? He just handpicked his buddies to negotiate with Putin, no experience whatsoever, and now we're paying the price. The fact that Ukraine is having to "rework" the document because it's so bad is just ridiculous 
. And those demands on NATO? Give me a break! Like, what's next, Trump going to ask China to join the party too? 
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. We can't let our guard down yet, though - Russia still has plenty of ammo to throw at Ukraine if they want to keep fighting 
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. I mean, 600,000 troops? That's a joke! 
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. It just goes to show how quickly the US abandons its allies when it's convenient for them 
. The international community needs to step up and support Ukraine until a real peace is achieved 
. No more playing games with Putin's ego or peddling weak plans 
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anyhoo, Putin's ambitions are definitely getting a hit right now 
. it's gonna take a lot of work but i'm rooting for ukraine to come out on top 
Trump's Ukraine peace plan was always a long shot, but its failure is a big deal. The fact that it required Ukraine to cap its army at 600k while Russia gets off scot-free is just shady. Putin's control over Crimea and parts of Donetsk is straight outta Kremlin script