The United States and Russia have discussed a controversial plan to model a future settlement in Ukraine on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, according to The Times UK. The proposal, reportedly backed by President Donald Trump’s peace envoy Steve Witkoff, could be unveiled before Trump meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
Under the reported arrangement, Russia would retain military and economic control over parts of occupied Ukraine without formally changing the country’s borders—mirroring Israel’s de facto governance of the West Bank since its capture from Jordan in 1967. Ukraine would technically remain sovereign, but the territories in question would function as occupied zones under Russian administration.
Sources told The Times UK that Witkoff—who is also tasked with advancing peace efforts in the Middle East—sees the model as a way to bypass constitutional restrictions in Ukraine that prevent ceding territory without a nationwide referendum. The aim, US officials believe, would be to establish a truce after more than three years of war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any deal involving the surrender of land. However, proponents of the occupation model argue it acknowledges “the reality on the ground” and prioritises halting bloodshed over achieving a full territorial settlement.
Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, which has been deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice, remains in defiance of multiple UN resolutions calling for withdrawal and the dismantling of settlements. Despite this, Israel maintains military control and has allowed the expansion of over 150 settlements, creating a dual legal system for Israeli and Palestinian residents.
Critics warn that adopting such a framework for Ukraine could entrench Russian influence indefinitely while avoiding direct international confrontation. The model, The Times UK notes, reflects a pragmatic—if contentious—worldview within the Trump administration, as expressed by senior adviser Sebastian Gorka: “We recognise the reality on the ground… We have one priority above all else… to stop the bloodshed. Everything else comes after.”
Putin is expected to press for the widest possible boundaries of Russian occupation before Friday’s summit with Trump, potentially shaping the course of Ukraine’s future under a deal many in Kyiv and beyond are likely to resist.
