European leaders and leaders from countries such as Canada and Japan stated this Saturday, 22, that the peace plan of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, serves as a basis for negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, but that it requires “additional work”.
The declaration is part of efforts to obtain a more advantageous agreement for Kiev before the kind of deadline given by Trump, who expects a response by next Thursday, the 27th, Thanksgiving Day in the USA.
Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, representatives from the European Union and countries such as France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada issued a statement in which they stated that “the initial version of the US 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace”.
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Still, they say there are concerns “about the proposed limitations on the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” In the declaration, which also includes the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Japan and Norway, the countries state, for example, that “borders should not be changed by force”, in reference to eastern Ukrainian territory, which, according to the plan, should be ceded to Russia.
The leaders appear to strike a balance of praising Trump to try to end the fighting, with recognizing that, for Kiev, some of the terms of the proposal are unacceptable. The 28-point plan was drafted by the US in conjunction with Moscow and is quite favorable to Russia, in the view of analysts.
The representatives met after President Volodmir Zelensky said on Friday that his country faced the choice between losing its dignity and freedom or Washington’s support. He appealed to Ukrainians for unity, promising never to betray Ukraine, and rejected the American plan.
German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz said he explained to Trump, in a long telephone conversation also on Friday, that Europe needs to be part of any process to end the war.
“If Ukraine loses this war and possibly collapses, it will have an impact on European politics as a whole, on the entire European continent. And that is why we are so committed to this issue,” Merz said.
French President Emmanuel Macron corroborated the German’s position by saying that the plan “is positive because it proposes peace and recognizes important elements in issues of sovereignty and security guarantees”, but “it needs to be reviewed, because, first of all, it was not negotiated with the Europeans”. According to him, there are points that “require broader consultation”.
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President of the European Commission demands ‘additional work’ in draft
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed support this Saturday for the plan presented by the United States to end the war in Ukraine, but noted that the text is preliminary and requires additional efforts.
“We welcome the continued efforts of the US to bring peace to Ukraine. The initial draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements,” von der Leyen said in a post on her social network X. At the same time, she stated that the work “will require additional work.”
According to the European leader, the commission is ready to work on an agreement that guarantees sustainable peace, and is clear about “the principle that borders should not be changed by force.”
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Von der Leyen also warned that proposed limitations on the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which would leave the country vulnerable to future attacks, cause concern. Another point highlighted by the leader was the need for authorization from members of the European Union and NATO to implement points of the agreement related to these two organizations.
As leaders rushed to craft a coordinated response to Trump’s peace plan, Ukraine anticipated holding talks with senior U.S. officials in Switzerland.
“Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace, and representatives of the Ukrainian state will defend the legitimate interests of the Ukrainian people and the foundations of European security,” a statement from Kiev said.
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Zelensky added in his speech: “This is about much more than the specific points of this or that document. We must ensure that nowhere in Europe or in the world does the principle prevail that crimes against people and humanity, against states and nations, can be rewarded and forgiven.”
National security advisors from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy are expected to participate in this meeting with representatives from the USA and Ukraine this Sunday, 22, in Geneva, to discuss the plan proposal, according to officials participating in the G20 summit.
Trump set a deadline for Zelensky’s return, but later moderated his speech
On Friday, Trump challenged Ukraine, saying that Zelensky would have until Thursday to approve his 28-point plan, which requires the country to cede territory, accept limits on its Armed Forces and renounce its ambitions to join NATO. “At some point, he will have to accept something he hasn’t accepted yet,” said the American.
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This Saturday, however, when questioned by journalists, the Republican stated that the plan was not his “final offer to Ukraine”. “We’re trying to end this. One way or another, we have to end this,” Trump said.
In their statement, Western leaders said they were “concerned about proposed limitations on Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which would leave the country vulnerable to future attacks.” “We reiterate that the implementation of elements related to the European Union and NATO would require the consent of EU and NATO members respectively,” says the text.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the plan as the basis for a resolution of the conflict, but Moscow may oppose some proposals in the deal, which requires its forces to withdraw from some areas they have captured.
The danger for Zelensky became evident when the Ukrainian president made a statement to the nation to prepare the population for some difficult days. “Now Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either lose its dignity or risk losing an important partner,” the Ukrainian said. “I will fight 24/7 to ensure that at least two points of the plan are not neglected: the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians.”
