US insists it authored its 28-point Ukraine peace after Russian ‘wish list’ rouses suspicions it was drafted by Kremlin

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that the controversial 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was ‘written by the US’.

He doubled down on US ownership of the plan and disputed claims by some senators that it was a ‘Russian wish list’.

‘This is based on input from the Russian side. But this is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine,” Rubio said.

Donald Trump declared that the offer was “by far” not the “final offer” as Western leaders scrambled to coordinate a response during frantic G20 summit diplomacy in South Africa.

The plan, drawn up by the Trump administration and the Kremlin, alarmed European governments after it emerged that Ukraine had been forced to agree to terms that reflected Moscow’s long-standing demands.

In a joint statement on Saturday, European and other Western leaders cautiously acknowledged that the document could provide a possible basis for ending the war, but stressed it would require ‘additional work’.

Washington has vehemently denied accusations that it reflects Russian objectives.

A crisis meeting was hastily convened in Geneva on Sunday; where national security advisors from the E3 (France, UK and Germany) will meet with EU, US and Ukrainian officials for urgent talks on the proposal.

Pictured from left to right: European Council President Antonio Costa, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Finnish President Alexander Stubb

Ahead of the meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a video speech emphasizing that Ukrainian negotiators ‘know exactly how to protect Ukraine’s national interests and what is needed to prevent Russia from carrying out another invasion.’

‘True peace is always based on security and justice,’ he said.

The 28-point plan closely reflects positions the Kremlin has repeatedly put forward throughout nearly four years of full-scale war, including demands that Ukraine cede territory and drastically reduce its armed forces.

Trump insisted that Kiev respond by Thursday but hinted that an extension might be possible.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Saturday, he rejected suggestions that the offer was final.

He said: ‘We want to achieve peace, this should have happened a long time ago. The war between Russia and Ukraine should never have happened. If I were president this would never happen. We are trying to end this. We have to put an end to this, one way or another.’

Leaders across Europe are trying to strike a careful balance; While they praise Trump’s efforts to end the war, they acknowledge that key parts of the plan are unacceptable to Kiev.

“There are many things that cannot be an American proposal alone and require wider consultation,” Emmanuel Macron warned on the sidelines of the G20, saying any deal must ensure peace for Ukrainians and “security for all Europeans”.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the risks to Europe, warning that Kiev’s defeat would have wider consequences.

‘If Ukraine loses this war and possibly collapses, this will have an impact on European politics as a whole and the entire European continent. “That’s why we attach so much importance to this issue,” he said.

‘There is an opportunity now to end this war, but we are still a long way from a good outcome for everyone.’

This comes as Moscow residents face power outages and heating outages for the first time today following the strike in Ukraine.

As temperatures dip below freezing, a dramatic swarm of drones detonates the mostly gas-fired Lenin Shatura thermal power plant

Pro-Kremlin media outlet Readovka and others admitted that power and heating outages were felt by residents

Speaking in Johannesburg, Keir Starmer expressed concern, in particular, about the restrictions placed on Ukraine’s armed forces.

‘We are worried’ [caps on military]because it is essential for Ukraine to be able to defend itself in case of a ceasefire.’

He said the plan ‘requires additional work’ and added: ‘That’s why the agreement was made in Geneva tomorrow. [Sunday]you’ll have senior US personnel, you’ll have European NSAs [national security advisers]Including the UK NSA and of course the Ukrainians who were there to do further work on the draft.’

Downing Street said Starmer had spoken directly to Trump about the issue and was expected to meet him again on Sunday.

This comes as Moscow residents face power outages and heating outages for the first time today following the strike in Ukraine.

As temperatures dropped below freezing, a dramatic swarm of drones detonated the mostly gas-fired Lenin Shatura thermal power plant.

‘There was a fire at the facility,’ regional governor Andrey Vorobyov said, referring to the Shatura strike.

He admitted that emergency workers were scrambling to bring in ‘spare’ electricity and heating supplies after damage to the power plant in eastern Moscow.

Pro-Kremlin media outlet Readovka and others admitted that power and heating outages were felt by residents; This is a rare event near the Russian capital, but a common one for Ukrainians after constant attacks by Putin’s forces.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin admitted that the capital was attacked by Ukrainian drones and at least three were shot down.