The Story A new peace plan, and a critical moment for Zelensky
Nov 25, 2025
In an insightful discussion, Mark Galeotti, a leading Russia expert and writer for The Sunday Times, dives into a controversial 28-point peace plan for Ukraine. He unpacks the Miami talks, revealing how business leaders, not diplomats, shaped the negotiation dynamics. Galeotti examines Ukraine's willingness to consider territorial concessions and the potential risks of ceding fortified cities to Russia. As he assesses both sides' manpower strains and Zelensky’s political vulnerabilities, he questions whether this plan could genuinely pave the way for lasting peace.
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Businessmen Wrote A Political Peace Plan
- The leaked plan was negotiated by businessmen, not diplomats, shaping its transactional, outcome-oriented framing.
- That background explains its heavy focus on money, assets and simple win conditions rather than detailed legal safeguards.
Rewrite Before Presenting To Russia
- Modify the leaked plan to be more favorable to Kyiv before presenting it to Moscow, as US-Ukraine talks in Geneva sought to do.
- Insist on removing exploitative profit clauses and unclear military limits to protect Ukrainian interests.
Territorial Concessions Are Tactical, Not Symbolic
- The plan would cede about 20% of Donetsk, including strategic 'fortress' cities, to Russia as a demilitarized zone.
- That tradeoff freezes front lines but preserves Russian territorial gains that Ukraine's forces struggled to hold.