Ukraine allies express concern over U.S. plans to end war

Ukraine’s allies have expressed concerns about U.S. plans to end the Russia-Ukraine war, calling the draft proposal “the basis for further work.”

In a joint statement issued at the G20 summit in South Africa, they said the plan “includes important elements crucial for a just and lasting peace” but also cited concerns about borders and restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces.

A day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Kyiv faced “one of the most difficult moments in our history” as pressure mounts to accept the plan, with leaked details seen as advantageous to Moscow.

US President Donald Trump has given Ukraine until November 27 to accept the 28-point plan, while Russian President Vladimir Putin said it could be the “foundation” for a solution.

Saturday’s joint statement was signed by the leaders of Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway. Two senior EU officials also signed the agreement.

“We are ready to engage to ensure that future peace is sustainable. Our clear principle is that borders must not be changed by force,” the statement said.

“We are also concerned about proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks.”

“Implementation of elements relevant to the EU and NATO will require the consent of EU and NATO member states respectively,” it added.

widely leaked american peace plan It is proposed that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region that they currently control and Russia’s de facto control of Donetsk, as well as the adjacent Luhansk region and the southern part of the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

The plan also includes freezing borders along current fronts in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of southern Ukraine. Both areas are partially occupied by Russia.

The U.S. draft also would limit the number of Ukrainian troops to 600,000 and station Eurofighter fighter jets in neighboring Poland.

The plan said Kyiv would receive “reliable security guarantees” but gave no details. The document said Russia was “not expected” to invade its neighbors and that NATO would not expand further.

The plan also states that Russia will “reintegrate into the global economy” by lifting sanctions and inviting Russia to rejoin the Group of Seven, a group of the world’s most powerful countries – making it the Group of Eight again.

Trump said on Friday that Zelensky “had to like” the U.S. offer, adding that otherwise Ukraine and Russia would continue to fight.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s leader issued a stern warning to the nation, saying the country “could face a very difficult choice: either lose its dignity or risk losing a key partner.”

“Today is one of the most difficult moments in our history,” Zelensky added, promising “constructive” cooperation with the Americans on the plan.

On Saturday, Zelensky announced that his chief of staff, Andrei Yermak, would lead the Ukrainian negotiating team.

Kiev relies heavily on deliveries of advanced U.S.-made weapons, including air defense systems to repel deadly Russian airstrikes, as well as intelligence provided by Washington.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Friday that Moscow had received the U.S. plan but said it had not yet been discussed in detail with the Kremlin.

He added that Moscow was willing to “show flexibility” but was also prepared to continue fighting.

Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russian forces have been slowly advancing in southeastern Ukraine in recent months despite reports of heavy casualties in fighting.