First Thing: US and Russian officials draft plan to end Ukraine war based on capitulation from Kyiv

The plan, which is likely to be viewed as ‘surrender’ by Kyiv, is facing pushback from the EU. Plus, Trump signs bill to compel release of more Epstein documentsDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.US and Russian officials have quietly drafted a new plan to end the war in Ukraine that would require Kyiv to cede territory and severely cut the size of its military, it was reported on Wednesday, in a development that Kyiv will probably view as surrender.Is this plan formally backed by the Trump administration? That’s still unclear, as Witkoff and Dmitriev have created an informal backchannel.What has the EU said? Any peace plan needs Kyiv and Europe “on board”. Foreign ministers are meeting today to discuss this – follow our live blog here.What will the justice department actually release? All files related to Epstein – including the investigation into his death by suicide in prison. While they can redact identifying information about victims, it specifically bars officials from declining to disclose information over concerns about “embarrassment, reputational harm or political sensitivity”. Continue reading...