Trump says US peace plan ‘not final’ offer for Ukraine as European allies push for changes

President Donald Trump has said the US peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war is not his “final offer” to Kyiv, after a coalition of Ukraine’s Western supporters warned the draft required significant revisions.

The remarks came as leaders from Europe, Canada and Japan said parts of the 28-point plan were “essential for a just and lasting peace”, but said it would require “additional work”, particularly on provisions involving Ukrainian borders and limits on the country’s armed forces.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Mike Rounds said Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senators that the 28-point plan was a Russian-sourced document. The State Department has not publicly commented on his claim.

Senior security officials from the US, Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine are due to meet in Geneva on Sunday in an attempt to refine the proposal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned that the country is facing “one of the most difficult moments in our history”, amid US pressure to accept a plan widely viewed in Kyiv as favourable to Moscow.

ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION

Asked on Saturday whether the current draft represented his final terms, Trump said: “No, not my final offer. One way or another we have to get [the war] ended, so we’re working on it.”

Washington has given Kyiv until 27 November to respond to the plan, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the plan could serve as the “basis” for a settlement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff will attend the Geneva meeting. Britain’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell will represent the UK.

A joint statement issued at the G20 summit in South Africa—signed by leaders from Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Germany, Norway and two senior EU officials—said the US draft “is a basis which will require additional work”.

The group underlined that “borders must not be changed by force”, and raised concern over proposed caps on Ukraine’s military that they said could leave the country exposed to future attack.

KEY CONCERNS OVER TERRITORY AND TROOP LIMITS

Leaked details of the US proposal indicate it would require Ukrainian forces to withdraw from parts of the eastern Donetsk region they currently hold, while recognising de facto Russian control over Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea.

It would also freeze front lines in the partially occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, and limit Ukraine’s military to 600,000 personnel. European fighter jets would be stationed in neighbouring Poland to shore up security.

The document promises Ukraine “reliable security guarantees”, though specifics have not been made public. In return, Russia would be gradually reintegrated into the global economy, including through the lifting of sanctions and a possible invitation to rejoin the G7 bloc.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, attending the G20 summit in Johannesburg, spoke with both Zelensky and Trump on Saturday. Downing Street said Starmer told Trump he would work with allies to examine the US proposal further in Geneva.

Starmer later told reporters he was troubled by the suggested troop ceiling for Ukraine, saying Kyiv “must be able to defend itself” in any ceasefire arrangement.

KYIV’S POSITION: AVOID “LOSING DIGNITY”

In a sombre address on Friday, Zelensky warned Ukrainians that the country “might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner”.

He vowed to defend “the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians” and said Kyiv would engage constructively with Washington.

On Saturday, Zelensky appointed his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, to lead Ukraine’s negotiating team. He said Ukrainian representatives “know how to defend Ukraine’s national interests” and would work to prevent any future Russian offensive.

Ukraine remains heavily reliant on US-supplied weapons, including air defence systems and intelligence, to counter Russian attacks.

Putin confirmed on Friday that Moscow had received the US plan but said it had not yet been discussed in detail by the Kremlin. He claimed Russia was ready to “show flexibility”, but also prepared to continue the war.

Russian forces have in recent months made incremental gains in Ukraine’s south-east despite heavy casualties, according to Western intelligence assessments.

– Ends

With inputs from Reuters

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