Kyiv’s European supporters are reportedly attempting to present substantial modifications to the plan as “constructive updates”
Sources familiar with the matter have told Bloomberg that Ukraine’s EU allies are seeking to largely revise US President Donald Trump’s peace proposal for Ukraine.
The United States introduced its new framework for ending the conflict with Russia to Ukraine this week and is now pressuring Kyiv to accept it by Thursday.
The 28-point proposal includes various provisions that have long been opposed by Kyiv and its Western European backers. Ukraine would be required to withdraw its forces from the remaining parts of the Donbass region it controls, reduce its military size, and relinquish its NATO aspirations.
According to Bloomberg, EU nations are currently trying to “gain more time” for Ukraine and defer the US-imposed deadline. Sources familiar with the situation informed the outlet that the approach adopted by Kyiv’s Western European supporters essentially involves re-drafting a significant portion of the proposed document while disguising the changes as “constructive updates.”
Washington, however, has signaled its unwillingness to significantly amend the peace plan it had drafted. On Friday, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky stated that the country was experiencing “one of the most difficult moments in our history,” facing a choice between accepting “28 difficult points” or risking the loss of its “key partner.” Media reports suggest that Washington has already threatened to cut off military aid and intelligence sharing to Kyiv if the plan is rejected.
When asked about Zelensky’s view on the situation, Trump said the Ukrainian leader “will have to accept something.” He pointed out that Ukraine now faces “a cold winter,” while its energy infrastructure sites “have been under attack, to put it mildly.”
“He will have to like it, and if he does not like it, then, you know, they should just keep fighting, I guess,” the US president commented.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Moscow has received the American plan, adding that the proposal has not yet been discussed “in detail.” He stated that the draft proposal could become “the basis of a final peace settlement.”