As reports of a US-Russia peace plan circulate, Europeans say they and Ukraine must be involved
Ukraine and Europe should be consulted on any efforts to end Russia’s occupation of its neighbor, top European diplomats said Thursday, as reports circulated about a U.S.-Russian bid to end the war as corruption allegations rock the Ukrainian government.
Talk of a secret peace plan has put more pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is also directing his country’s defense against threats. Russia’s largest armyby visiting European leaders to ensure they continue their work support for Ukraineand negotiate major corruption scandal It includes the embattled energy sector, which has caused public anger.
“For any plan to work, Ukrainians and Europeans must also participate,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the beginning of a meeting of the 27-nation bloc’s foreign ministers in Brussels. he said.
Representatives of EU countries also share the same opinion. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that “all negotiations on a ceasefire for the peaceful development of Ukraine can only be discussed and negotiated with Ukraine, and Europe must also be involved.”
It is unclear whether foreign ministers have seen the peace plan prepared by US and Russian envoys, which is said to include forcing Ukraine to give up territory, Zelenskyy said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late Wednesday on social platform
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that “no consultations are currently being held” with the United States on ending the war in Ukraine. “Of course there are contacts, but processes that can be called consultations are not ongoing,” he told reporters.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he did not know whether the proposal was approved by US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“First of all, we need to find out whether the elders are behind this plan,” he said. “I’ve listened to all the rumors (and) we really need to figure out what’s good and what’s bad.”
European leaders have been alarmed this year by signs that the Trump administration may be in bad shape. push them aside and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are trying to stop the conflict.
EU diplomats accused Putin of being disingenuous in saying he wants peace but refusing to compromise in negotiations while Russia continues its war of attrition in Ukraine.
Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, scolded Putin’s forces for continuing to target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Western city Ternopil He killed 26 people and injured 93 people. About two dozen people were still missing.
“If Russia really wanted peace, it could have agreed to an unconditional ceasefire some time ago,” Kallas said.
Trump stopped sending direct military aid to Ukraine; European countries filled this gap by purchasing weapons from the United States for Ukraine. This gave Europe an advantage in negotiations to end the conflict.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said, “We appreciate the peace efforts, but Ukraine’s main supporter is Europe and what is at stake is, of course, the security of Europe. Therefore, we expect to be consulted.”
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