U.S. Senators Say Rubio Told Them Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan Is Russia’s ‘Wish List’

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — Lawmakers criticize situation President Donald Trump’s approach He said they met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war, and Rubio told them that the peace plan that Trump forced Kiev to accept was a “wish list” of the Russians, not the actual proposal presenting Washington’s positions.

A State Department spokesman denied this statement, calling it “patently false.”

Rubio then took the extraordinary step of claiming online that the senators were mistaken, even though the senators said they were the source of the information. The Secretary of State further strengthened his claim that Washington was responsible for a proposal that surprised many from the beginning because it was so favorable to Moscow.

All of this led to a confusing and potentially embarrassing turn of events for the peace plan anointed by the Trump administration, which was already facing a potentially challenging future.

widely leaked 28-article US-backed peace plan This was the result of a month of work by Rubio and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as input from both the Ukrainians and Russians, according to the White House. plan agrees Russia has many demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has categorically rejected dozens of times, including giving up large swaths of territory. Trump said he wants Ukraine to accept the plan by the end of next week.

“This administration was not responsible for this release in its current form,” said Republican Mike Rounds of South Dakota, speaking at a security conference in Canada. “They want to use this as a starting point.”

“Initially it seemed to be written more in Russian,” Rounds said.

Senators said they spoke with Rubio after he reached out to some of them on his way to Geneva to discuss the plan. Independent Maine Sen. Angus King said Rubio told them the plan was “not an administration plan, but a Russian wish list.”

The bipartisan group of senators, who are senior lawmakers and those most focused on foreign affairs, stood together at the news conference as Rubio delivered his message on the call.

Rubio, who serves as both national security adviser and secretary of state, was expected to attend a meeting in Geneva on Sunday to discuss Washington’s proposal as part of the U.S. delegation, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss publicly with American participants before the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The peace proposal was drafted by the United States. It is presented as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations,” Rubio wrote on X. “It’s based on input from Russia. But it’s also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine,” Rubio wrote.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the senators’ statement was “patently false.”

A senior Trump administration official, who insisted on anonymity to detail internal discussions, said Saturday night that the White House has repeatedly maintained that the plan was written by the United States but included input from the Russians and Ukrainians.

The official said the plan has always been considered by the administration as a useful place to launch ongoing negotiations to work toward a more lasting peace plan.

Senators said earlier Saturday that the plan would only reward Moscow for its aggression and send a message to other leaders who threaten their neighbors.

“It rewards aggression. This is pure and simple. There is no ethical, legal, moral or political justification for Russia to lay claim to eastern Ukraine,” King said during a panel discussion at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada.

Putin welcomed the proposal late Friday, saying it could “form the basis of an eventual peace agreement” if the United States can get Ukraine and its European allies to agree.

Zelenskyy did not reject the plan outright in his speech, but insisted on fair treatment while promising to “work calmly” with Washington and other partners during what he called “truly one of the most difficult moments in our history.”

Approximately 300 people gather each year at the Halifax International Security Forum, held at Halifax’s Westin hotel in its 17th year. The forum attracts military officials, U.S. senators, diplomats and academics, but this year the Trump administration suspended participation by U.S. defense officials in think tank events, including the Halifax International Security Forum.

Several US senators made the trip this year, in part because of the strained relations between Canada and the US Trump. Alienated America’s neighbor with the trade war and Canada’s insistence that there should be 51st state of the USA. Many Canadians are now refusing to travel to the United States, creating drama in border states like Shaheen’s New Hampshire. Decline in tourism.

Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.