Trump: My Plan for Ukraine Is Not Final

SadaNews - U.S. President Donald Trump denied that his plan to end the Russian-Ukrainian war is a final offer, despite announcing yesterday, Friday, a deadline for Kyiv to accept it, while Western leaders stated in a joint statement that the plan requires further work.

Trump stated in remarks to reporters today, Saturday, "The war must end one way or another." But when asked if this was his final offer, he replied "No."

Washington and Kyiv announced that they will hold talks on the plan tomorrow, Sunday, in Geneva, Switzerland, with the participation of senior officials.

The U.S. president announced on Friday that he is giving Ukraine until next Thursday to accept his plan, which he said represents a path to peace, and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must approve it.

However, Zelensky announced his rejection of this 28-point plan, saying he would try to present alternative proposals to Washington. He believed that his country might have to choose between sacrificing its dignity and freedom or losing its most important ally.

Joint European Position

On another note, ten countries supporting Kyiv, along with the European Union, issued a joint statement describing the U.S. plan as a basis for peace in Ukraine, following a meeting of their leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

The leaders of the EU and Germany, France, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Italy, Japan, and Norway said, "The preliminary draft of the 28-point plan contains important elements that will be essential for achieving a just and lasting peace."

The statement added, "We believe that the draft represents a foundation that requires additional work."

The leaders agreed for national security advisors from the European troika, which includes France, Britain, and Germany, to meet with officials from the EU, the U.S., and Ukraine in Geneva tomorrow, Sunday, for further discussions.

Criticism of the Plan

Many European capitals have voiced varying degrees of criticism towards the U.S. plan, which supports Moscow's main demands, as leaders tried to balance praising Trump for his attempt to end the war while simultaneously acknowledging that some clauses in the plan are unacceptable to Kyiv.

CNN reported an European diplomat saying, "Any agreement regarding Ukraine cannot include recognition of the occupation."

Additionally, five U.S. senators expressed their concerns about the details of Trump's plan, emphasizing that "lasting peace cannot be achieved by making concessions to Putin and weakening Ukraine's ability to defend itself."

The five members - Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Peter Welch, Chris Coons, Republican Tom Tillis, and independent Angus King - stated that President Putin "only understands power and will not adhere to any agreement unless it is backed by strength."

The U.S. plan stipulates Ukraine conceding the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east of the country to Russia, which would return to the group of the eight most advanced economies, according to the proposal.

Talks in Geneva

U.S. and Ukrainian officials announced that both sides will hold talks in Geneva tomorrow, Sunday, to discuss the details of the U.S. proposal.

U.S. Army Minister Daniel Driscoll arrived in Geneva, according to a U.S. official, with a Ukrainian delegation expected to arrive later today.

Also expected to arrive tomorrow, Sunday, are U.S. Special Envoy Steve Whitekopf and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Ukrainian president has signed a decree to assign the negotiating delegation, which is headed by the head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak and includes the heads of the National Security Council and security and intelligence agencies, as well as the chief of staff.