Paris (Parliament Politics Magazine) – France and EU leaders label US-Russia peace plan requiring Ukraine to cede Donbas and halve its army as “capitulation,” warning it threatens Kyiv’s sovereignty.
As reported by The Telegraph, France claims the US’s latest plan to end the conflict pressures Ukraine to “capitulate” to Russian demands.
Under a 28-point plan drafted by Washington and Moscow, Ukraine would need to give up territory to Russia and reduce its army by half.
What did Jean-Noel Barrot say about the US-Russia peace plan?
France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said,
“Peace cannot mean capitulation. We do not want the capitulation of Ukraine.”
He added,
“Discussions are needed for us to reach a just and durable peace in Ukraine, they should start with a ceasefire on the contact line that allows for orderly discussions on the question of territories and security.”
What concerns do European leaders have about the US-Russia peace plan?
At the EU meeting in Brussels, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said the proposal would dominate talks, rather than focusing on targeting Russia’s economy and oil exports.
She stated,
“We are now going to discuss the recent news. What we Europeans have always supported is a long-lasting and just peace, we welcome any efforts to achieve that. Of course, for any plan to work, it needs the Ukrainians and Europeans on board.”
Ms Kallas added,
“So this is very clear, we have to understand in this war there is one aggressor and one victim, we haven’t heard any concessions on the Russian side.”
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said any negotiations must start with Russia agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire.
Poland’s foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, said,
“We commend peace efforts, but Europe is the main parent, the main supporter of Ukraine, and of course, its European security is at stake, so we expect to be consulted.”
He added,
“But also, I hope it’s not the victim that has restrictions on its ability to defend itself, but it’s the aggressor whose aggressive potential should be restricted.”
European officials said they were shut out of the secret negotiations, but Lithuania’s foreign minister, Kestutis Budrys, offered a more measured response.
He stated,
“I do not see the big tragedy that there are some ideas how to end this war – that is good that it is coming from United States.”
Mr Budrys continued,
“Look at the positive side. If they are working on it, it means that they engage. They are not dropping it for Europe to only to deal with.”
What did the Kremlin say about talks on the reported Ukraine peace plan?
Moscow said any Ukraine peace plan must confront the conflict’s root causes, adding that despite recent contact with the US, no formal talks are under way.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to say whether President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the details of the alleged Ukraine peace plan.
The development follows the arrival of a Pentagon delegation in Ukraine, led by the US Army secretary, who is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky today.
What Did Marco Rubio Say About the US-Russia Ukraine Peace Plan?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s decision to craft a new peace plan with Russia.
He said securing a
“durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions. That is why we are and will continue to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict.”
What did Josh MacAlister say about Ukraine being excluded from peace talks?
During an interview, when asked about the reported US-Russia deal that might compel Ukraine to cede territory, UK minister Josh MacAlister responded,
“The UK government position on this, both under our government and the previous government, is really clear that Ukraine absolutely needs to be in these negotiations at the table as an active participant and player.”
Pressed on Ukraine not being included in the negotiations, he responded,
“Well they need to be. And any decision needs to be made with Ukraine in the room. And that is the UK government position. We’ve used our foreign policy activity, our relationships with the US, to make that point. We’ll continue to do so.”
When questioned about the UK not being at the negotiation table, the children’s minister said,
“I think as you follow this story, it takes lots of twists and turns, as happens with the US administration sometimes. Look at the big arc of this, which is that Trump has actively engaged with the Ukraine question increasingly, which is welcome. And the relationship with Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government has improved. That’s welcome. We need to make sure Ukraine is at the table.”
What’s included in Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine and Russia?
Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump’s new strategy would require Ukraine to lease control of its eastern Donbas region to Russia as part of a ceasefire deal.
The plan, crafted by American and Russian officials without Kyiv’s involvement, would cut the size of Ukraine’s armed forces by half and ban the country from possessing long-range missiles.
Under the plan, foreign troop deployments would be blocked, US military assistance would end, and foreign diplomatic aircraft prevented from landing in Ukraine.
The peace proposal would designate Russian as an official state language and grant the Russian Orthodox Church formal recognition in the occupied regions.
How many civilians have died in the Ukraine war?
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022.
As of October 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has reported a total of 53,006 civilian casualties, which include 14,534 deaths and many more injuries.
The US has made a peace plan for Ukraine and Russia, but European countries are worried because Kyiv was not fully involved in the deal.
