French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Russia would break any ceasefire and resume hostilities if Ukraine is forced to reduce its army under a US-proposed peace plan. Speaking at the G20 summit in South Africa, Macron said: 'We know that if there are no elements of deterrence, the Russians will come back and break their promises.' He stressed that any plan requires broader consultation and must ensure security for all Europeans.
The US proposal, which Donald Trump described as not his 'final offer', calls on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military, and renounce Nato ambitions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senators the plan is a 'wish list' of the Russians, but later insisted it was authored by Washington as a framework for negotiations. Ukrainian and American officials are set to meet in Switzerland on Sunday to discuss the plan.
European leaders, along with Canada and Japan, issued a joint statement expressing concern over proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces, which they said would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Trump that Europe must be part of any peace process, warning that a Ukrainian collapse would impact the entire continent.
On the battlefield, Ukraine reported that Russian forces attempted to advance on Pokrovsk using fog cover but were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, US officials have told Nato allies they expect to push President Zelenskyy into agreeing a deal soon, under threat of a worse future offer. Zelenskyy said 'dignified peace' must be based on guaranteed security and justice, and announced a negotiating team led by his chief of staff for talks in Geneva.
Eight Nordic and Baltic nations reaffirmed support for Kyiv by supplying arms and strengthening European defences, noting that Russia has not committed to a ceasefire. Ukraine also confirmed the release of 31 civilians from Belarusian prisons in a prisoner exchange.
