The Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubiohas participated in an unprecedented way this Tuesday in the meeting of the so-called Coalition of Volunteers for Ukraine, convened by the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, to respond to the peace plans for Ukraine that have been circulating this week.
The presence in this international videoconference of the representative of Donald Trump is especially relevant, taking into account that the Coalition of Volunteers was established last March precisely to give support to European participation in the negotiations for the future of the country invaded by Russia, after repeated attempts by Washington to isolate the Old Continent. Now, the Coalition is made up of a group of around thirty countries, mainly European, but also others such as Japan, Canada or Australia. They intend, among other things, to form an international peace force for Ukraine, something rejected by Russia in the first of the peace plans presented this week, the 28-point one that has relaunched the negotiating process.
In his opening speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said kyiv was ready to move towards peace and he was prepared to discuss the “most sensitive points” with Donald Trump and allies, according to a copy of the speech seen by Reuters. He has called on Europeans to shape the “reinsurance force” for Ukraine.
At this Tuesday’s meeting, Starmer and Macron insisted on the need for that deterrent force as a guarantee of security for Ukraine. The British premier has asked the partners toand “concrete” their commitments with the future peace operation in Ukrainian territory and has presented the multinational force as “a vital part” of the security guarantees for the country once the fire has ceased. He stressed that London will continue working “on the next steps with the United States military” and that the Coalition must be established as “a solid political guarantee to demonstrate to Russia” that Europe is serious “when it comes to responding to any violation” of the future agreement. It thus links any peace plan to the real commitment to put soldiers on the ground under the mandate of that multinational force: troops for demining tasks, air patrols, ground support and reconstruction…
Zelensky has assured that he sees “solid results” but also “a lot of work ahead.” The Ukrainian president released this Monday the initial document of the Russian-American proposal.
Participating, as usual, were the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney; in addition to Spanish Pedro Sanchezamong others.
08/13/2025 The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, during a meeting of leaders of the Coalition of Volunteers for Ukraine, by videoconference, on August 13, 2025, in Spain. / Pool Moncloa / Europa Press
In the videoconference, Macron assured that “finally” there is a real opportunity to move towards lasting peace, but only if the US plan is accompanied by “very solid security guarantees and not guarantees that only exist on paper.”
Proposal reformulated by Ukraine
In talks in Geneva, Volodymyr Zelensky managed to modify the initial peace proposal document sent by the United States but drafted jointly with Russia. It reduced the initial 28 points to 19 points, which included onerous conditions for Ukraine such as recognition of Ukrainian regions conquered by Russia as Russianthe reduction of his army o to ban on entry into NATO. Now, the Ukrainian president will try to finalize an acceptable roadmap in an upcoming conversation with the president of the United States, Donald Trump, which he has already formally requested, according to the media Axios, even this week when it is Thanksgiving and the American president is leaving for his Mar-a-Lago mansion.
Russia announced yesterday that it considersthe modifications requested by Ukraine are unacceptable and its European partners to an initial version of the document that Russia does view favorably. Emissaries from Russia, Ukraine and the United States met this Tuesday in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) to continue negotiating the document.
The United States delegation has been led by the Secretary of the United States Army, Daniel Driscoll. The contacts began last night in the Emirati city and have continued throughout this Tuesday. A spokesman for Driscoll has assured that the US delegation “has had conversations with the Russian delegation to achieve peace in Ukraine.” that have “gone well.”
Over the weekend, Driscoll, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and diplomats from Ukraine and European allies attended talks convened in Geneva to reach an agreement.
Los EU foreign ministers will also specify this Wednesday, in a videoconference meeting, the common position and strategy for peace negotiations for Ukraine. The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallahas summoned the European heads of the sector to “close ranks and discuss next steps”, European sources have confirmed to Europa Press.
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