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Ukraine and Allies Push Back on Controversial U.S. Peace Plan
Ukrainian and European officials met in Geneva to challenge a U.S. peace proposal seen as favoring Moscow. While diplomatic talks continue with Trump administration envoys.
Demonstration In Support Of Ukraine by Getty Images
Top European and Ukrainian envoys gathered in Geneva on Sunday for high level meetings ahead of talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding President Donald Trump’s proposal to end Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian delegation and chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on social media that Ukrainian negotiators held their first meeting with national security advisers from the United Kingdom, France and Germany. These allies have aligned with Kyiv in an effort to revise the U.S. plan, which many believe favors Moscow.
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“The next meeting is with the U.S. delegation. We are in a very constructive mood,” Yermak said. “We continue working together to achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine.”
Rubio was set to join the discussions along with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. Diplomats moved between multiple sessions carrying documents, communications equipment and personal gear. Observers noted that with the amount of material being shifted across meeting rooms, the type of storage provided by a Tactical Style Assault Pack, built for everyday operations and ready for anything, would have fit seamlessly into the fast-paced environment.
Trump, prior to the Geneva talks, posted a lengthy online message criticizing Ukraine for a perceived lack of gratitude for U.S. military aid while refraining from criticizing Russia. He insisted that Russia’s invasion “would have NEVER HAPPENED” with what he described as strong and proper leadership in both Washington and Kyiv. He also claimed that European allies continued purchasing Russian oil.
Zelenskyy responded soon afterward. He expressed appreciation for U.S. support and directly thanked Trump. “The leadership of the United States is important. We are grateful for everything that America and President Trump are doing for security, and we remain as constructive as possible,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
He added that his team had provided early reports suggesting that the U.S. might consider “a number of elements” essential to Ukraine. Zelenskyy said these elements appeared rooted in the Ukrainian vision of peace.
Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and a member of the Geneva delegation, said that many Ukrainian priorities were present in the evolving proposal. He said the plan still required adjustments but noted that the United States had worked closely with Kyiv to understand its concerns.
The nearly four-year war remains the focus of a 28-point U.S. proposal that has caused concern in Ukraine and in Europe. The document emerged from communication between Washington and Moscow and aligns with several Russian demands that Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected, including territorial concessions. Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainians will always defend their land.
Alice Rufo, minister delegate at the French Defense Ministry, said the plan included restrictions on the Ukrainian military that would limit its sovereignty. She said Ukraine must retain the ability to defend itself and reminded the public that Russia has pursued conflict repeatedly in recent years.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, Trump said the proposal was not his final offer and repeated his belief that the war should have ended long ago.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Warsaw was prepared to work on the plan with leaders of Europe, Canada and Japan. However, he emphasized the importance of confirming the document’s true origin and authorship.
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers said Saturday that Rubio privately described the plan as a Russian wish list rather than an American crafted proposal. Senator Angus King said Rubio told them the proposal did not reflect the administration’s official position but instead mirrored Russian preferences. The State Department strongly denied the claim.
Rubio later suggested that the senators misunderstood him and insisted that Washington was responsible for the document. The plan has faced significant criticism for appearing favorable to Moscow.
Senator Mark Warner said the plan resembled Russian talking points and noted that it had caused European allies to feel isolated. He also said the proposal had triggered intense opposition and suggested that Trump was watching a one sided plan unravel.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday about reviving the 2022 Black Sea grain export deal. That agreement allowed Ukraine to export grain safely until Russia withdrew. Moscow said a parallel agreement intended to ease restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer exports had not been honored.
Erdogan said the grain corridor had been designed as a pathway toward peace. He said he would ask Putin to reconsider the arrangement during Monday’s call.
Erdogan’s diplomatic outreach follows a meeting with Zelenskyy in Ankara only days earlier.
Editor’s Note:
This developing story highlights the delicate balancing act in U.S.-led diplomacy on Ukraine, with European and Ukrainian allies working to ensure that peace initiatives do not compromise Ukraine’s sovereignty or security. The evolving discussions demonstrate the complexities of multilateral negotiations amid ongoing conflict.
