Kaya Callas

The U.S.-Russian ceasefire blueprint is said to include highly disadvantageous terms for Kyiv, such as the complete surrender of the Donbass, even though Russian forces have failed to fully take it, and limits on the size of Ukraine's army and weapons arsenal.

The release of the lopsided plan coincides with a debate in Brussels on whether to use frozen Russian assets to back a zero-interest loan to Ukraine and amidst intensified Russian strikes on Ukraine's cities and energy infrastructure ahead of winter.

Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

We also are very happy about the signals we get from America regarding Russia, the sanctions.

I think it's an important sign of strength.