Ask Onix
G20 leaders to review US peace plan for Ukraine as Kyiv faces pressure
Ukraine's allies will seek to refine a controversial US-backed proposal to end the war with Russia during the G20 summit in South Africa, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Saturday. The meeting follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's warning that his country faces "one of the most difficult moments in our history" amid mounting pressure to accept terms widely seen as favorable to Moscow.
Zelensky rallies support amid leaked plan backlash
Zelensky held emergency calls with Starmer, French President Gabriel Attal, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday, urging unity as details of the US proposal-including concessions Kyiv had long rejected-circulated among diplomats. The plan reportedly demands Ukraine cede control of eastern territories currently under its defense, reduce its military, and forgo NATO membership, a core Kremlin demand since Russia's 2022 invasion.
European leaders expressed unease over the draft's perceived tilt toward Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters,
"We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right to concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms are for Ukraine to decide."
Kaja Kallas, EU Foreign Policy Chief, via Reuters
US sets Thursday deadline as Moscow signals flexibility
US President Donald Trump framed the proposal as an "appropriate" path to peace, giving Ukraine until Thanksgiving-November 28-to accept or risk further territorial losses. "Zelensky is going to have to approve this," Trump stated Friday, while US Vice President JD Vance dismissed claims that increased military aid could secure victory, calling it a "fantasy."
Russian President Vladimir Putin, absent from the G20, acknowledged receiving the US plan but noted no detailed Kremlin discussions had yet occurred. "We are ready to show flexibility," Putin told his security cabinet, "but we are also prepared to continue fighting."
Kyiv's dilemma: Dignity vs. partnership
In a 10-minute address outside Kyiv's presidential office, Zelensky struck a measured tone, emphasizing Ukraine's intent to "calmly work with America and all partners" to propose alternatives. He admitted the country might face a "very difficult choice: either losing dignity or risking the loss of a key ally." The remark underscored Kyiv's delicate balancing act-maintaining ties with Washington while resisting terms that could undermine its sovereignty.
Leaked draft reveals sweeping concessions
The unpublished US document, obtained by multiple outlets, outlines:
- Territorial withdrawal: Ukrainian forces would retreat from parts of Donetsk they currently hold, effectively ceding the region-along with Luhansk and Crimea-to Russian control.
- Military limits: Kyiv would shrink its armed forces and permanently abandon NATO aspirations.
- Security guarantees: Vague promises of "reliable" protections for Ukraine, with no specified enforcement mechanism.
- Sanctions relief: Russia's reintegration into the global economy, including a return to the G7 (expanding it to G8) and lifted sanctions.
Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. The plan assumes Moscow will refrain from further invasions-a provision critics call unverifiable.
White House denies sidelining Kyiv
An unnamed US official told CBS News the proposal was drafted "immediately" after consultations with Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, who allegedly agreed to "the majority" of its terms. Zelensky's office has not confirmed this account.
As G20 talks commence, Starmer pledged to "strengthen the plan for the next phase of negotiations," reiterating that any lasting peace must align with Ukraine's right to self-determination. "Not a day has passed where Ukraine hasn't called for Russia to end its illegal invasion," he said. "Now is the time to unite behind a just resolution."
Frontline stalemate persists
Despite heavy casualties, Russian forces continue incremental advances along the 1,000-km front. Ukraine's defense relies heavily on US-supplied weaponry-including air defense systems-and intelligence sharing, a lifeline since 2022. Analysts warn that without sustained Western support, Kyiv's leverage in negotiations could further erode.
