Ukraine Deal Leaks, And It's Weird. Dems Tell Troops To Defy "Illegal Orders." Are We In A Recession?

Russia–Ukraine: A Confusing Peace Plan With High Stakes

A 28-point “peace plan” began circulating over the weekend, first reported as a U.S. document before officials insisted it originated from Russia. That explanation made sense, given that nearly all of its provisions amounted to unilateral concessions from Ukraine: ceding territory, disbanding its military, and relying solely on a U.S. security guarantee. But Senator Marco Rubio insisted the plan was American, injecting even more confusion into an already murky diplomatic moment.

The political backdrop is deteriorating for Kyiv. Winter is setting in, battlefield momentum has stalled, and President Zelensky faces domestic frustration over corruption and exhaustion. Western patience is thinning. Some observers are even floating a broader geopolitical theory: that the U.S. may be entertaining Russian preferences in Ukraine in exchange for cooperation in Venezuela, where Moscow remains Nicolás Maduro’s most important ally. I don’t know if that theory holds water, but it’s now part of the conversation as delegations head to Geneva.