SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
President Trump says the U.S. has a new peace plan to end the war in Ukraine, and he strongly urges Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign on.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Yeah. We have a way of getting peace, or we think we have a way of getting peace. He's going to have to approve it.
SIMON: That's the president at the Oval Office yesterday. President Trump says he expects Zelenskyy to give an answer by Thursday. The U.S. plan provides some security guarantees for Ukraine, but it also codifies several longstanding Russian demands. NPR's Charles Maynes is in Moscow. Charles, thanks for being with us.
CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE: Good morning, Scott.
SIMON: What do we know about this plan?
MAYNES: Well, first of all, it's a draft plan, and the White House officials have confirmed to NPR its contents could change. But as it's publicly presented now, you know, it's rather extensive - 28 separate points, something of a laundry list for a post-conflict Ukraine. Everything from when elections might be held to how Ukraine is rebuilt and who pays for it. But to actually stop the fighting, the key elements include calls for Ukraine to cede territory in the Donbas, including land that Russia has not been able to conquer in more than three years of fighting. It calls for limits to Ukraine's military, including caps on troops and certain weapons, and it calls for Ukraine to formally renounce ambitions to join NATO. You know, all clearly Russian demands, which is perhaps not surprising given that a Kremlin envoy helped draft it with White House officials.
SIMON: Is there anything for Ukraine to like here?
MAYNES: Well, to a degree, yes. The plan also codifies Ukraine's right to try and join the European Union, which as a sovereign country, it should have the right to do anyway. Also security guarantees, including a provision that says an attack on Ukraine would be seen as an attack on the Transatlantic Alliance, at least for the next 10 years. So something like a temporary NATO 5 - NATO Article 5 clause. That's something Ukraine has long wanted, even though there are questions and even doubts about how ironclad a promise like that would be.
SIMON: You're in Moscow, of course, Charles. What's the reaction from Russians?
MAYNES: You know, it's been a strange week. The more details that came out about this plan, the less the Kremlin had to say. That finally changed last night, though.
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PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Speaking Russian).
MAYNES: So that's Russian President Vladimir Putin heard here, who says the U.S. plan could be used as the basis for a final peaceful settlement, even as he went on to warn the details had not been discussed substantively with Russia. Now, Putin offered a theory why. He said it likely meant the U.S. had yet to convince Ukraine to accept the deal, but more ominously, he said it didn't matter. He said Moscow preferred diplomacy but would achieve its goals in Ukraine militarily if need be.
SIMON: And what about Ukraine's response 'cause there are some enormous concessions you mentioned?
MAYNES: Yeah. Huge concessions, and some would argue this plan essentially rewards the aggressor. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a public statement to the nation last night, which he said the country was facing one of its most difficult moments. Let's listen.
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PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: (Speaking Ukrainian).
MAYNES: So here Zelenskyy says right now Ukraine may find itself facing a very tough choice - either losing its dignity or alienating its key partner, the U.S. But rather than immediately saying no to Trump, Zelenskyy said his focus would be on presenting counterproposals.
SIMON: NPR's Charles Maynes in Moscow. Charles, thanks so much for being with us.
MAYNES: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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