The draft US-Russia peace plan has been widely leaked and we now know that it proposes to hand over those areas of Ukraine's industrial eastern Donbas region still under Ukrainian control to the de facto control of Vladimir Putin's Russia.

Latest versions of the text also call for Ukraine to cut the size of its armed forces to 600,000 people.

Among the most contentious proposals are Ukraine handing over its own unoccupied territory and cutting the size of its armed forces.

Ukraine's military was estimated last January at 880,000 active personnel, up from 250,000 at the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

There are 28 key points and several could be acceptable to Ukraine. The plan includes the notion of a non-aggression agreement between Russia, Ukraine, and Europe, backed by security guarantees, though lacking clarity on the nature of those guarantees.

The draft suggests a withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from certain controlled areas and a neutral demilitarized buffer zone recognized as Russian territory, a proposition certain to provoke widespread dissent among Ukrainians.

Additionally, the proposal claims that Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian territories, a point likely to be unacceptable to the Ukrainian government, which regards these regions as integral parts of its sovereignty.

Ukraine's strategic future is also at stake, as the draft suggests that Ukraine agree in its constitution not to join NATO while being offered preferred market access to the EU.

The plan raises questions about security and international military commitments, as there are no specifics about enforcement or responsiveness to possible future aggressions by Russia.

Overall, the draft suggests integrating Russia back into the global economy and managing frozen Russian assets to support rebuilding efforts in Ukraine, a notion that some commentators view as catering to Kremlin interests.

This leaked draft serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding peacemaking efforts in the context of prolonged conflict, highlighting the need for clarity and robust commitments from all parties involved.