Peace Negotiations Collapse in Ankara Amid Corruption Scandal and New Ukrainian Proposals

Special envoy of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, canceled his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara due to major disagreements over the peace plan under discussion. This was reported by the Axios news outlet, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.

Witkoff Refuses Meeting After Zelensky Rejects Agreed Terms

According to the report, the meeting was postponed once it became clear that Zelensky was abandoning the arrangements previously reached with the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and was not interested in discussing Trump's proposal.

"The meeting was postponed when it became clear that Zelensky was backing away from the agreements reached with Umerov and had no interest in discussing Trump's plan,” the source told Axios.

Sources say the Ukrainian leader arrived in Ankara with a new plan drawn up together with European partners. This proposal, they note, would almost certainly trigger a strongly negative reaction from Moscow.

One of the interlocutors also mentioned that the negotiations were complicated by the corruption scandal in Ukraine, which further undermined confidence in Kyiv's position.

Witkoff Handed Kyiv Washington's Demands Earlier This Week

As reported, the peace proposal was developed with participation from a group of current and former Russian and American officials. It was delivered to Kyiv earlier this week by Steve Witkoff, who met in Miami with the current secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov.

According to sources, Washington is asking Kyiv to cut the size of its armed forces by half and abandon key categories of weaponry. The plan also envisions the winding down of US military assistance and obliges President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept the proposed terms.

Earlier, Witkoff called off the meeting with Zelensky that had been scheduled for November 19. Ukrainian and American officials confirmed that the envoy "was supposed to meet Zelensky on Wednesday in Turkey but postponed his trip.”

FT: Plan Requires Recognition of Crimea and Russian Language

According to the Financial Times, the proposed settlement would require Kyiv to relinquish its claims to Donbass and officially recognize the Russian language.

"The peace plan stipulates recognition of Russian as an official state language of Ukraine. It also includes granting official status to the local branch of the Russian Orthodox Church,” the paper reported.

The plan further demands that the United States cease military aid to Ukraine and accept Crimea as part of Russia.

One Ukrainian source cited by the newspaper harshly criticized the proposal, calling it a "capitulation” and accusing President Donald Trump of seeking compromise with Moscow at Kyiv's expense.