Bipartisan Criticism Emerges Over Trump's Ukraine Proposal
US senators from both major parties have voiced serious concerns about President Donald Trump's 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine, with some describing it as advancing Russian priorities rather than American interests. The controversy emerged during a security forum in Canada where senators Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen and Mike Rounds revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had privately characterised the document as a Russian "wish list" during confidential discussions.
Senator Rounds delivered particularly sharp criticism, stating the text "looked more like it was written in Russian to begin with" and insisting the administration was not responsible for the release in its current form. The senators maintained that the State Department intended to use the document merely as a starting point for negotiations rather than a final settlement.
Diplomatic Fallout and European Response
The State Department swiftly denied the senators' account, with a spokesperson calling their claims "blatantly false". Secretary Rubio later took to social media platform X to clarify that Washington had authored the proposal, describing it as "a strong framework for ongoing negotiations" that incorporated input from both Moscow and Kyiv.
Meanwhile, European leaders gathered on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa to coordinate their response to what many perceive as terms that would leave Ukraine dangerously vulnerable. Leaders from eleven nations including Germany, France, Britain and Canada issued a joint statement acknowledging the proposal contained "important elements essential for a just and lasting peace" but emphasised that "the draft is a basis which will require additional work".
The diplomatic scramble comes as President Trump has given Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky until Thursday to accept the proposal, which demands significant concessions including ceding additional territory to Russia, limiting the size of Ukraine's military, and renouncing ambitions to join NATO.
Cross-Atlantic Coordination and Zelensky's Defiance
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke with President Trump late Saturday, with both leaders agreeing their teams would coordinate ahead of crucial talks scheduled for Sunday in Geneva. The Prime Minister had earlier assured President Zelensky of Britain's "steadfast support for Ukraine" during their conversation.
Zelensky has responded to the pressure with characteristic defiance, pledging not to "betray his country" while offering alternatives to what many Western officials see as Kremlin-backed terms. In a show of solidarity, leaders of eight Nordic and Baltic nations released a joint statement committing to continue arms supplies and supporting solutions that "respect Ukraine's sovereignty".
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasised that "many things cannot simply be an American proposal" and required broader consultation, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of the broader implications for European security if Ukraine were to lose the war.
The situation remains fluid as national security advisers from Britain, France and Germany prepare to meet with EU, US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva, with Secretary Rubio en route to participate in what promises to be critical negotiations shaping Ukraine's future.
