US Negotiates Ukraine Peace Plan Amid Conflicting Claims
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has praised the progress made in the ongoing peace negotiations with Ukraine, despite controversy over the origin of the peace plan and the extent of Russian influence. This comes as European leaders and other allies express concern over the US peace proposals and President Donald Trump's ultimatum to Ukraine.
Background
In the recent weeks, the Trump administration has been actively pursuing a peace plan for Ukraine, which has been met with both support and skepticism. Rubio has highlighted the tremendous amount of progress
made in the talks with Ukrainian officials, with recent discussions held in Geneva deemed productive. However, the source of the plan and its proposed concessions have caused confusion and raised questions among US lawmakers and international observers.
Key Developments
The peace plan was characterized by some lawmakers as a Russian wish list,
a claim that Rubio and the Trump administration have vehemently denied. Rubio insists that the plan, which is based on proposals from Russia and Ukraine, is a US-authored framework for negotiations. He further clarified that while the US received a proposal, it is not a US recommendation or peace plan, but rather a shared intermediary proposal.
The proposed 28-point peace plan reportedly includes recognition of Russia's control over Crimea and Donbass. It also calls for Russia to withdraw troops from Ukrainian territories it currently holds and for Ukraine to cap its military at about 600,000 troops and stay out of NATO.
Implications and Reactions
The peace plan has been met with mixed reactions worldwide. European leaders have urged the US for additional work
on the peace plan, expressing concerns over the concessions to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine faces a tough choice between losing its dignity
or risking the loss of the US as a key partner over the peace plan.
On the other hand, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has voiced that the US Congress should participate in reviewing the plan for achieving peace in Ukraine. President Trump has also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing peace talks, noting that Ukraine would either have to accept the US plan or continue fighting.
Current Status
The peace negotiations are ongoing, with Rubio stating that more work is needed to finalize the US-Ukraine deal, which will then require Russia's agreement. Furthermore, he highlighted that some changes would be made to the peace plan following the Geneva negotiations. While the US is seeking to get a peace deal as soon as possible, no deadline has been set yet.
The implications of the peace plan for Ukraine's future and its relationships with the US and its European allies remain to be seen. As the negotiations continue, the world watches closely to see the final outcome of these crucial talks.