Understanding the conflict three years on.

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Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a U.S.- and Russian-drafted peace deal for Ukraine, China’s diplomatic rift with Japan, and alleged Russian sabotage in Poland and the United Kingdom.

Efforts to revive peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war appear to be gaining momentum, as the Trump administration floats a new deal to permanently halt the fighting. Inspired by the U.S.-drafted Gaza cease-fire agreement, the White House’s 28-point framework reportedly aims to address peace in Ukraine, provide security guarantees, ensure European safety, and improve the future of U.S. relations with both Kyiv and Moscow.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a U.S.– and Russian-drafted peace deal for Ukraine, China’s diplomatic rift with Japan, and alleged Russian sabotage in Poland and the United Kingdom.

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Efforts to revive peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war appear to be gaining momentum, as the Trump administration floats a new deal to permanently halt the fighting. Inspired by the U.S.-drafted Gaza cease-fire agreement, the White House’s 28-point framework reportedly aims to address peace in Ukraine, provide security guarantees, ensure European safety, and improve the future of U.S. relations with both Kyiv and Moscow.

According to Axios, the United States and Russia have been secretly working together on this new plan, and the White House is optimistic that it could be agreed to in the near future—possibly as soon as this week. However, the plan includes several elements that have long been seen as nonstarters for Ukraine, which means such optimism may be misplaced.

Under the proposal, Russia would be granted de facto control of Ukraine’s Donbas region despite Ukraine still holding around 14.5 percent of that territory. The area that Kyiv withdraws from would be considered a demilitarized zone, meaning Russia could not position troops there. The current lines of control in the Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia would largely be frozen in place, with Russia returning some land subject to negotiations. And while Ukraine would not be required to recognize Moscow’s claimed territory,........

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