U.S. Envoy Reportedly Pushes Controversial Peace Plan As Russian Barrage Kills Dozens

Latest Developments

• U.S. Envoy Pushing Peace Plan on Kyiv: The Trump administration has been secretly working with Russia to draft a 28-point proposal to end the war, U.S. and Russian officials told Axios on November 18. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has been coordinating with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev on the points. According to media reports on November 19, the plan calls for Ukraine to cede the rest of the eastern Donbas region not currently occupied by Russian forces and slash the size of its military, among other painful terms. Politico reported that the White House expects Zelenskyy will have little choice but to accept the plan.
• 9-Story Apartment Building Hit: A massive overnight Russian drone and missile attack mainly targeting western Ukraine killed at least 25 people, including three children, and wounded more than 70, according to the Ukrainian authorities. The Ukrainian air force stated that Russia launched 476 drones of various types, 47 cruise missiles, and one ballistic missile. The barrage damaged energy and other critical infrastructure, as well as residential buildings. Most of the casualties were caused by a strike on a nine-story apartment building in Ternopil, tearing away the building’s upper floors. A drone also impacted an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, leaving dozens injured.
• Drone Enters Romanian Territory: NATO scrambled fighter jets in Polish and Ukrainian airspace during the attack, with Poland temporarily closing Rzeszow and Lublin airports “to ensure freedom of operation for military aviation.” Romania also scrambled Eurofighter Typhoon and F-16 fighter jets after a Russian drone was detected nearly five miles into its airspace. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk concerning the recent sabotage of a Polish railway by suspected Russian agents, with both leaders agreeing to the creation of a joint “Ukrainian-Polish group that will work to prevent similar situations.”

FDD Expert Response

“For nearly four years, Russia has been waging a brutal, illegal, and imperialist war of conquest against Ukraine. With winter coming, the Kremlin’s goal is to cause Ukrainians as much suffering as possible. The goal is to force Ukrainians to surrender their sovereignty, independence, culture, language, and freedom. They will not do so. Europe and the United States must assert more economic and military pressure on Russia if there is to be any possibility of concluding a ceasefire.” — Clifford D. May, Founder and President

“Putin’s unprovoked assault against Ukraine and its brave people will continue until Washington and its allies in Europe adopt a stronger policy that decisively shifts his cost-benefit analysis. If we do more of the same, we should not expect a different result.” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center of Military and Political Power

“The White House should think again before trying to do a dirty deal with Moscow over the heads of Ukraine and Europe. Some U.S. officials may believe Zelenskyy’s weakened political position will leave him no choice but to swallow Russia’s demands. If anything, the opposite is true. Unless and until Russia agrees to deal on realistic terms, peace will remain elusive. Washington must not keep stepping on the same rake.” — John Hardie, Russia Program Deputy Director

FDD Background and Analysis

“Polish Authorities Investigating Sabotage of Critical Railway Used To Transport Aid to Ukraine,” FDD Flash Brief

“Massive Russian Missile and Drone Attack Kills 6 Overnight in Kyiv,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘He’s Not Messing Around’: Trump Signals NATO Could Shoot Down Russian Aircraft as Aerial Incursions Continue,” FDD Flash Brief

“Military Mobility Depends on Secure Critical Infrastructure,” by Annie Fixler, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, and Rory Lane