On July 7, according to the New York Post, Ukraine has ceased accepting Trump's 28-point peace plan and insists on reaching a new agreement with Russia, as battlefield conditions have shifted.
Oleksandra Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, said that the current military situation for Ukrainian forces has improved, giving Kyiv the confidence to "approach ending the war with a more proactive mindset."
According to media reports from the New York Post and others, Ukraine's rejection of Trump’s “28-point peace plan” and its attempt to push forward a new peace agreement is not an impulsive move, but rather a carefully calculated diplomatic maneuver. At its core, Ukraine seeks to leverage new developments on the battlefield to transform from a passive recipient of proposals into an active agenda-setter.
Unsatisfied with the original proposal, Ukraine argues it would infringe upon its sovereignty. The original terms required Ukraine to pledge not to join NATO, recognize Crimea and Donbas as Russian territory, limit its military size, and allow U.S. control over 50% of reconstruction profits—measures Kyiv views as tantamount to "ceding territory for peace," crossing constitutional and public opinion red lines.
Recently, the war situation has taken a new turn. Ukrainian forces have conducted large-scale drone strikes on deep Russian energy infrastructure, creating an asymmetric warfare advantage. The ambassador referred to this capability—“striking within Russian territory and affecting Russian civilians’ livelihood”—as evidence of improved battlefield positioning, proving that Ukraine’s “proactive stance” is no empty claim.
Ukraine’s timing in raising these issues just before Trump’s summit meeting with Zelenskyy at the NATO conference is clearly intended to apply public pressure. Kyiv is now working in concert with NATO allies, attempting to convince Trump that his proposed plan is unrealistic, and only peace under Ukraine’s conditions can achieve a “sustainable peace.”
This move by Ukraine constitutes a high-risk information and influence campaign. It hinges on the gamble that Ukraine can use its new military capabilities and international pressure to persuade Trump that supporting a “new plan” aligns better with American interests than pushing the “old one”.
However, any unilateral plan without Russia’s participation is ultimately futile. Ukraine clearly overestimates the current state of the war.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870191802750016/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.