U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the draft plan to end the Ukraine conflict, perceived by some as favorable to Russia, was “authored by the U.S.” This declaration arises amid information from a group of senators who reported Rubio described the draft as a Russian “wish list” and stated that it did not reflect U.S. policy. Rubio later clarified that the plan was indeed U.S.-authored and incorporated insights from both Russia and Ukraine.
Rubio’s comments coincided with his visit to Geneva, Switzerland, where he engaged in discussions with Ukrainian and European security officials regarding the plan, which U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Ukraine to quickly accept. European allies of Ukraine have voiced opposition to several significant provisions in the draft, which remains unofficial but has been widely discussed. Key elements reportedly call for Ukraine to withdraw troops from certain eastern regions and to limit its military.
Senator Mike Rounds remarked that Rubio had indicated the draft was not an official U.S. proposal and asserted that it was presented to a U.S. envoy by a representative from Russia. However, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott rebuffed Rounds’s account as “blatantly false,” maintaining that the proposal originated from the U.S.
In response to the leaked plans, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of severe pressures to accept terms that may not align with Ukraine’s interests. Additionally, Trump has suggested that the plan is not a “final offer,” asserting that it requires Zelensky’s approval.
The proposal includes provisions related to territorial control and security guarantees for Ukraine, though details about these guarantees remain unspecified. The Ukrainian government recently announced the appointment of Andriy Yermak to lead future negotiation efforts, with the aim of protecting Ukrainian national interests against potential further Russian aggression. The conflict, initiated with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has led to significant military reliance on U.S. support by Ukraine.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g95x50kdyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss