Kyiv secures removal of amnesty clause for Russia from U.S.-backed peace plan
Nation27 November 2025, 06:45 PM
During negotiations between the United States and Ukraine in Geneva, a number of agreements were reached.
Some issues require further discussion with European allies, the diplomat added.
"There was a lot of speculation about this point on amnesty, and I can definitely say that it is not part of these 19 points," she told DW. "So this point is not there because it's extremely arguable, and it's an issue about justice, and there were a lot of multiple misinterpretations."
Stefanishyna declined to say whether the clause's removal means Russia will face accountability for war crimes in Ukraine.
"While we're expecting for public creation from the Russian administration on the plan, I would not really go further into that," she said. "But I think this point has caused a lot of speculation and misreading, and it's very important that it's not there, and it evolved after the conversations and negotiations led by the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva."
The original U.S. plan, as published by Axios, included a point stating that "all parties to the conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future."
U.S. and Ukrainian delegations held talks in Geneva on Nov. 23. A joint statement said the sides prepared an updated framework document on peace settlement.
The Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the discussions, reported on Nov. 24 that the U.S.-backed peace plan was shortened from 28 to 19 points after the Geneva talks.
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Nov. 25 that U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll would arrive in Kyiv this week to "finalize next steps on the peace plan."
Reuters reported on Nov. 26 that the 28-point U.S.-backed peace plan for Ukraine was based on a document prepared by Russia. According to three sources, Moscow sent the draft to high-level U.S. officials in October after President Donald Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.