British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has joined European leaders in expressing significant concern over the controversial peace plan for Ukraine proposed by former US President Donald Trump. As Ukraine and the United States prepare to further discuss the proposal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faces a humiliating ultimatum: accept a plan favoring Moscow’s demands or risk losing vital international support and prolonging the devastating war with Russia.
Starmer, speaking ahead of the G20 summit in South Africa, emphasized that “Ukraine should determine its own future,” after a call with Zelensky and conversations with other European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. While acknowledging Trump’s expressed desire for a “just and enduring peace,” Starmer and his European counterparts remain wary of provisions in the leaked 28-point plan that would require Kyiv to cede control of significant eastern territories such as Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk—regions Ukraine does not fully control and which Russia has occupied illegally since 2014.
The proposed peace framework also suggests Ukraine substantially reduce the size of its military to 600,000 personnel and forbids its accession to NATO. While Ukraine would, in theory, receive "robust security guarantees," skepticism remains high due to prior failures such as the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, which failed to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty after it voluntarily relinquished its nuclear arsenal.
Zelensky acknowledged in a recent televised address his country is at a “critical moment,” weighing the “sacrifice of dignity” against the risk of losing a vital ally in the United States. He pledged to engage “calmly” with America and partner nations to explore alternatives, insisting Ukraine will not give adversaries any pretext to claim it is unwilling to pursue peace.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated it had not yet received official communication regarding the plan from the US and insisted on its openness to peace negotiations, albeit skeptical of the ongoing diplomatic process. The peace proposal's draft notably excludes foreign military personnel and omits wider European initiatives to provide international reassurance forces if a ceasefire occurs—which reflects the minimal involvement European nations reportedly had in drafting the plan.
As Ukraine and the US prepare for crucial talks, the international community faces a delicate balancing act—pushing for a ceasefire and lasting peace while safeguarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity and autonomy. Starmer’s statement echoes broader European calls for a strengthened peace plan “for the next phase of negotiations,” making clear that any settlement must be just, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, and cannot simply be dictated by Moscow’s terms.
The looming deadline set by the US adds pressure on Zelensky to make tough decisions amidst war fatigue and geopolitical complexity. With European leaders united on the need for additional work on the proposal and wariness over forced concessions, the road to peace remains fraught with uncertainty and high stakes.
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