As G20 leaders gather in South Africa, Ukraine’s allies are aiming to strengthen a controversial US peace plan to end the war with Russia, despite significant reservations from Kyiv and European partners. The diplomatic push comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Ukraine faces “one of the most difficult moments in our history” under pressure to accept the proposal.
The leaked US plan includes terms seen as favorable to Moscow, which Kyiv had previously ruled out. Key provisions reportedly require Ukraine to cede eastern territories it currently controls, significantly reduce the size of its army, and pledge not to join the NATO military alliance—a long-standing Kremlin demand.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after phone calls with Zelensky and the leaders of France and Germany, stated that allies would “discuss the current proposal… and look at how we can strengthen this plan.” He emphasized their commitment to a “just and lasting peace,” while acknowledging the plan is the basis for the next phase of negotiations.
However, the US-led effort has created nervousness in Europe. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas labeled the situation a “very dangerous moment,” stressing that “how it ends matters.” She reiterated that “Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions,” and that the terms of any agreement are ultimately for Ukraine to decide.
The pressure on Kyiv is intensifying. US President Donald Trump, who is not attending the G20 alongside Russia’s Vladimir Putin, has publicly warned that Ukraine would lose more territory “in a short amount of time” and insisted Zelensky “is going to have to approve” the plan. He claims to have given Ukraine a deadline to agree, describing it as “appropriate.”
Kyiv’s position is critically dependent on continued US support, including advanced weaponry and intelligence. This dependency underscores the immense pressure on Zelensky’s government as it weighs a plan that would force painful concessions for a fragile peace.
By James Kisoo
