European allies say US plan for Ukraine ‘needs work’
European leaders say the US peace plan forms the basis of talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine but “additional work” is needed amid efforts to reach a better deal for the country before a deadline.
Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, European and other allied leaders scrambled to find a coordinated response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Ukraine to agree to a 28-point peace plan with Russia by Thursday.
The US plan, which reportedly supports some of Russia’s demands, was met with measured criticism in many European capitals; leaders sought to balance praise for Trump for trying to end the war, while also acknowledging that some of the terms in his offer were unacceptable to Ukraine.
In the coming days, there will be consultations with our partners on the steps that need to be taken to end the war. Our representatives know how to defend Ukraine’s national interests and exactly what needs to be done to prevent Russia from launching a third invasion, another attack… pic.twitter.com/O7pR87SHTe— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 22, 2025
Leaders of the European Union (EU), Germany, France, England, Canada, Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Italy, Japan and Norway said, “The first draft of the 28-item plan includes important elements that will be necessary for a just and lasting peace.” he said.
“Therefore, we believe that the draft is a basis that will require additional work,” the statement said.
The leaders met after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that his country faced the choice of either losing its dignity and freedom or having the United States support the plan.
He appealed to Ukrainians for unity and promised to never betray Ukraine.
This signal caused European leaders to take action.
Any Ukraine-Russia peace plan would need to: 1) Stop the killings while preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty. 2) Be acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine. 3) Maximize the chances of the war not restarting. Any criticism of the peace framework the administration is working on… — JD Vance (@JDVance) November 22, 2025
A German government source said they met in a room called the “lion” in Johannesburg and the leaders adopted the “spirit” of the animal in talks to find a way to secure a better deal for Ukraine.
Ukraine has said it will hold talks with senior US officials in Switzerland to end Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year, as leaders race to find a coordinated response to the peace plan.
“Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace, and representatives of the Ukrainian state will defend the legitimate interests of the Ukrainian people and the foundations of European security,” the Ukrainian presidency said in a statement. The statement was included.
Zelenskiy added in a speech: “This is much more than specific points of this or that document. We must ensure that the principle that crimes against people and humanity, against states and nations can be rewarded and forgiven, does not prevail anywhere in Europe or the world.”
National security advisers from the E3, an informal security alliance of France, Britain and Germany, will meet EU, US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva on Sunday to discuss the proposed peace plan, officials said on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
On Friday, Trump said Zelenskiy had until Thursday to approve the 28-point plan calling on Ukraine to give up territory, accept limits on its military and abandon its goals of joining the NATO military alliance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the plan the basis for resolving the conflict, but the Kremlin may object to some proposals in the plan that call for the withdrawal of its forces from some captured territories and agree that $100 billion ($155 billion) of Russia’s assets frozen in the EU be invested in rebuilding Ukraine.
US Vice President J.D. Vance said any plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and be acceptable to both countries, but that it is a “fantasy” to think Ukraine can win if the US gives Russia more money or weapons or imposes more sanctions on Russia.
with AP
