US and Russian officials have been meeting to discuss developing a new agreement to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. 

The Financial Times spoke with officials who said the deal would see Ukraine cede some territory to Russia. Moscow has demanded that Kiev agree to recognize Moscow’s control over four regions of Ukraine that were annexed by Russia in 2022. 

Russian forces only control part of the territory that Moscow now claims. The deal would require Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the Donbas. Ukrainian forces in the region have recently lost a critical city to Russia. 

However, the deal will allow Kiev to retain the parts of Kherson and Zaporizhia that are still controlled by its forces. 

Additionally, under the deal, Kiev will have to cut the size of its armed forces in half, and Western states will agree to end transfers of long-range weapons to Ukraine. 

The officials who spoke with FT said the potential agreement is still in its framework stage. A Russian person, the outlet described as “familiar with the matter,” said, “It’s not a plan but a mix of real, practical proposals with good intentions. Part of it is absolutely unacceptable for the Ukrainians.”

Politico reported speaking with White House officials who said the agreement could be finalized this week. The FT’s chief correspondent in Kiev, Christopher Miller, wrote on at X that there is no possibility that Ukraine accepts the agreement. 

“There is no way there is a deal done ‘this week’ or ‘by the end of the month,’ And there is no chance of the Ukrainians accepting this proposal – which is not a deal, but a demand for Ukraine’s complete surrender,” he explained. 

No, there is no way there is a deal done “this week” or “by the end of the month”. And there is no chance of the Ukrainians accepting this proposal – which is not a deal, but a demand for Ukraine’s complete surrender. https://t.co/zqcveZyXFs

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) November 19, 2025