Zelenskyy says Ukraine has sent proposals to US to end war with Russia

What Happened

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had handed the United States new proposals aimed at ending the four-and-a-half-year war with Russia. He offered no details but said the US could help strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and increase pressure on Moscow to prepare for peace rather than prolonging the war. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were last in Moscow in January and have not yet visited Kyiv. Separately, Zelenskyy accused Russia of preparing to use upcoming parliamentary elections as a pretext for a new large-scale military mobilization. He claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans an additional rapid mobilization of several hundred thousand Russians by the end of the year, plus a similar number next year, to create the appearance of public support for the war. Russian officials have previously denied that another mobilization is necessary.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The delivery of Ukrainian proposals signals active but opaque diplomatic maneuvering, while Zelenskyy’s warning about Russian mobilization raises the prospect of a renewed large-scale offensive timed with domestic political theater. This could complicate any near-term peace efforts and places urgency on Western military aid and pressure strategies.

Watch For

Substantive details of Ukraine’s proposals; indications of a US negotiator visit to Kyiv; the conduct and aftermath of Russia’s parliamentary elections as a potential mobilization trigger; and any spike in hostilities on active fronts.