Rubio Insists Proposal Was US-Authored
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is pushing back against claims from fellow senators that the Trump administration’s 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine represents a Russian “wish list.” A bipartisan group of lawmakers said Rubio told them the plan originated from Moscow, though both Rubio and State Department officials now insist it was “authored by the United States.”
Key Provisions Draw Criticism
The proposed agreement, which President Trump has urged Ukraine to accept by Thursday, contains several controversial elements:
- Recognition of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk as de facto Russian territory
- Ukrainian withdrawal from remaining controlled areas in those regions
- Freezing of front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as buffer zones
- Abandonment of NATO membership aspirations
- Capping of Ukrainian military at 600,000 troops
- Dropping of war crimes cases against Russia
- Elections in Ukraine within 100 days
International Response
European allies have expressed serious reservations about the proposal. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are pushing for revisions ahead of Sunday talks in Geneva involving EU, US, and Ukrainian officials.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated, “There are many things that cannot simply be an American proposal, which requires broader consultation.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that “if Ukraine loses this war and possibly collapses, it will have an impact on European politics as a whole.”
Ukrainian Position
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not rejected the plan outright but insisted on fair treatment, calling this “one of the most difficult moments in our history.” He pledged to “work calmly” with Washington and other partners.
Senators Voice Alarm
At the Halifax International Security Forum, senators from both parties condemned the proposal. Senator Jeanne Shaheen declared, “This is a Russian proposal. There is so much in that plan that is totally unacceptable.” Independent Senator Angus King compared the situation to the failed appeasement of Hitler in 1938.
Military Developments
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones struck a major heat and power station in the Moscow region, causing a fire at the Shatura Power Station approximately 124 kilometers east of the Russian capital. Regional governor Andrei Vorobyov said backup power had been activated and mobile heating units deployed following the attack.
