Ukraine Allies Voice Concerns Over Proposedโ U.S. Peace โPlan
GENEVA/KYIVโ – โฃas peace talks convene in Geneva, key European allies are signaling reservations about a potential U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, emphasizing the necessity โof Ukrainian involvement and adherence to it’s sovereignty. Concerns center on ensuring โฃany agreementโ doesn’t compromise Ukraine’s territorial integrity and reflects its own national interests, a stance โrepeatedly underscored by European leaders at the G20 summit.
While details of the U.S. proposal remain largely undisclosed, European officialsโฃ are pushing for modifications to guarantee Ukraine has a central role in negotiations โand that Russia demonstrates a commitment to respectingโ previously agreed-upon boundaries. Friedrichโข Merz, leader of the Christian democratic Union in Germany, stated during a G20 briefing, “An end to the war can only be achieved with the unconditional consent of Ukraine,” adding โhe’d conveyed to former President trump the importance of European participation in โany peace process, and Russia’s past failures to uphold commitmentsโ regardingโ Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
EU Commissionโข president Ursula von der Leyen reinforcedโฃ this position,declaring โa core principle forโ Kyiv’s allies is “nothing about โคUkraine without Ukraine.” French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this sentiment at the G20, stating, “there can be no peace in Ukraine without respect for ukraine’s sovereignty,” without directly โaddressing the U.S. plan. Moscow, meanwhile, continues to seek โฃmore favorable terms in any potential agreement.
Ukraine itself is approaching the talks with resolve. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video address Saturday,โฃ affirmed Ukrainian โคrepresentatives “know how to protect Ukrainian โnationalโ interests and exactly what is needed to prevent Russia from carrying out” another invasion. He stressed that “real peace is always based on security and justice.” A nine-member Ukrainian delegation,includingโค Chiefโ of Staff Andrii Yermak โฃand top envoy Rustem โฃUmerov,is empowered to negotiate directly with Russia.
The Geneva talks coincide with Ukraine’s commemoration of Holodomor Memorial Day, marking the millions who perished in the soviet-era famine of theโฃ early โ1930s.โ Zelenskyy drew parallels between the past tragedy and the current conflict,stating on Telegram,”We are once again defending ourselves against Russia,which has not changed and is once againโ bringing death.” He vowed, “We defended, defend, โคand will always defend Ukraine. Because onlyโค here โis our home. And in our home, Russia will definitely not be the master.”
