Europe’s sharp response to the US peace plan for Ukraine

According to Isna, the draft, which was reportedly prepared by Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev, “imposes draconian measures on Ukraine that would give Russia unprecedented control over the country’s military and political sovereignty, and this plan will likely be seen as a capitulation in Kiev.”

US and Russian officials have drawn up a plan to end the war in Ukraine based on concessions from Kiev.

“What we as Europeans have always supported is a long, lasting and just peace, and we welcome any effort to achieve it,” EU foreign policy chief Kaia Callas said as she entered the meeting. “Of course, for any plan to work, it needs the support of the Ukrainians and the Europeans, so that’s quite clear.”

Accusing Russia, he added: “Also, we must understand that in this war, there is an aggressor and a victim. So we have not heard any concessions from Russia. “If Russia really wanted peace, it could have agreed to an unconditional ceasefire some time ago, while we are witnessing the bombing of civilians again tonight.”

Callas also confirmed that, as far as he knows, no European leaders were involved in drafting the proposal.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barro also emphasized that peace in Ukraine cannot mean “surrender” of Kyiv.

“Negotiations are necessary to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” he said. “These talks should start with a ceasefire on the line of contact that will allow regular discussions on the issue of territories and security.”

He also accused the President of Russia “Vladimir Putin” of hindering the establishment of peace in Ukraine.

Jose Manuel Albarez, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, also emphasized that any peace plan for Ukraine should include Kyiv and the European Union.

The Guardian reports that not everyone is equally supportive; Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Sziarto said the EU should immediately stop any future payments to the “war mafia” in Ukraine, as he warned that “it is an illusion to say that time is on Ukraine’s side.”

Earlier, the Financial Times reported, citing its sources, that the proposed US peace plan for Ukraine includes reducing US military aid to Kyiv, recognizing the official status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and establishing Russian as the official language in Ukraine. As part of the plan, Kyiv will also relinquish all of Donbas and reduce its armed forces. The newspaper claimed that the plan also calls for a ban on the deployment of foreign troops on Ukrainian soil and a halt to the delivery of long-range weapons to Kiev.

Axios, citing a US official, reported that the proposal envisages that the Donbass regions ceded by Kiev would be designated as demilitarized zones, while the US and other countries would recognize Crimea and Donbass as a legal part of Russia.

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