Russia rejects Trump's Ukraine peace plan and threatens UN peacekeepers

Friday 09 January 2026 - 08:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Russia rejects Trump's Ukraine peace plan and threatens UN peacekeepers

Russia has swiftly dismissed a US-proposed peace initiative for Ukraine, presented by President Trump's advisors during high-level talks in Paris. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Wednesday to outline the plan, which emerged from prior discussions with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky noted Thursday that a bilateral US security agreement stands nearly ready for Trump's approval, signaling momentum in efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict.

Moscow's response came sharply from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who branded proposals for European UN peacekeeping forces an "axis of war." She warned that any foreign troops deployed in Ukraine would rank as legitimate military targets for Russian forces, dampening hopes for swift diplomatic progress. Zakharova described the ideas from the so-called volunteer coalition and Kyiv's leadership as dangerous and destructive, while President Vladimir Putin has shown no public inclination to engage seriously with the US-Ukraine negotiations.

The Paris declaration, signed Tuesday by the United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine, envisions a multinational European force alongside a US-led monitoring mechanism to deter future Russian aggression post-ceasefire. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlined plans for military hubs across Ukraine and fortified sites for weapons storage to bolster Kyiv's defenses. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz cautioned, however, that a ceasefire remains distant and hinges on Russia's consent.

Key sticking points persist, including control over eastern Donbass territories and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Zelensky highlighted these as core issues from the foundational framework for war's end, noting his 20-point peace plan is 90% complete but stalled on territorial disputes. He expressed hope that US-Russia interactions would reveal Moscow's true intent to end hostilities.

Proposed security guarantees include sustaining Ukraine's 800,000-strong army with Western funding and a bilateral defense pact requiring US congressional approval. Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes continue to hammer Ukrainian energy infrastructure, leaving over a million without heat or water amid freezing winter conditions.