Trump's Controversial Ukraine Peace Proposal Faces Backlash from EU Leaders

A draft proposal to end the war in Ukraine, advanced by the Trump administration, has faced significant backlash from both Ukrainian officials and several European leaders. According to Salon, the proposal, developed by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, includes provisions that would require Ukraine to significantly downsize its military, forgo long-range weapons, and accept Russian control over occupied territories.

Moreover, the plan demands that Ukraine withdraw from approximately 14% of the Donbas region not currently under Russian control, designating that area as a demilitarized zone. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the situation, stating that achieving a durable peace requires both sides to agree to difficult concessions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed receipt of the draft, expressing his country’s ongoing commitment to peace since the invasion began and indicating a willingness to discuss the proposal further with Donald Trump.

However, other Ukrainian officials have dismissed key elements of the proposal, characterizing it as absurd and tantamount to unconditional capitulation. Ukrainian MP Iryna Gerashchenko remarked that the proposal mirrors Russia’s demands from 2022, suggesting it was designed to test Kyiv’s readiness to concede territory.

European leaders echoed these sentiments, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stating that peace should not equate to capitulation, and Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski emphasizing that European governments were not consulted in drafting the proposal.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that any viable peace plan would require consensus from both Ukraine and European allies, highlighting the lack of concessions from Russia thus far. This renewed diplomatic effort comes as the war approaches its fourth year, amidst ongoing Russian offensives and political pressures faced by Zelenskyy linked to corruption investigations involving his inner circle.

The situation underscores the complexities of international diplomacy in a region fraught with conflict, directly impacting NATO relations as well as the broader geopolitical landscape.