European leaders described the 28-point proposal put forward by the United States for Ukraine as "a draft" and stated it needs to ...
European leaders described the 28-point proposal put forward by the United States for Ukraine as "a draft" and stated it needs to be modified to include their requirements.
Officials stated in a shared message on Saturday, after an intense week, that the proposal could act as the foundation for discussions, although further development is required, and the existing conditions are not yet definitive.
The leaders, such as the German Chancellor, the UK Prime Minister, and the French President, voice worries regarding proposals that Ukraine's military might be reduced in a deal with Russia, and they emphasize that matters concerning European and NATO security must be agreed upon by Europe and its partners first.
The statement said, 'We are worried about the suggested restrictions on Ukraine's military forces.'
We also emphasize that the execution of aspects concerning the European Union and those related to NATO would require the approval of EU and NATO members individually.
The declaration was endorsed by EU Council President Costa, President von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Carney, Finland's President Stubb, President Macron, German Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Martin, Italian Prime Minister Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi, Dutch Prime Minister Schoof, Prime Minister Støre, Prime Minister Sánchez, UK Prime Minister Starmer, and Poland's Donald Tusk.
The 27 EU leaders are scheduled to gather once more on Monday.
Crucial week for Ukraine and Europe
European nations and their partners are conducting critical discussions during the G20 summit in South Africa to prevent Ukraine from being forced into a hasty agreement that might leave Kyiv vulnerable to future threats.
A representative from the European Union informed Euronews that "there is a strong diplomatic initiative" taking place ahead of a deadline set by the United States for Ukraine to accept or reject the 28-point proposal.
The same official informed Euronews that the pressure on Kyiv is "massive," and a coalition of nations backing Ukraine, headed by France and the United Kingdom, will introduce an alternative proposal.
The issues important to Europeans revolve around three key areas: independence, land areas, and Russia's compensation for the war.
A statement released on Saturday asserts that borders cannot be altered through force, criticizing the 28-point plan that demands substantial territorial changes from Ukraine, such as surrendering all of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk to Russia.
In their declaration, the leaders also emphasize their opposition to diminishing Ukraine's military strength, in contrast to the US proposal that suggests cutting the number of troops to 600,000, whereas Ukraine currently has nearly 900,000 soldiers.
Europeans and Ukrainians concur that the nation's military should be enhanced and expanded in the coming years to prevent potential future attacks.
Finally, there is a lack of consensus among Europeans regarding the handling of Russia's frozen assets, which are primarily located in Europe.
The European Union is seeking methods to utilize 140 billion euros in frozen Russian assets located in Belgium, aiming to provide an extraordinary reparations loan to Ukraine to meet its military and financial requirements for 2026 and 2027.
The proposal put forward by the United States following direct talks with Moscow implies the contrary.
Even though the specifics are unclear, the plan suggests that the frozen assets would be released and allocated to two investment funds, one designated for Ukraine and the other for Russia.
The United States could gain economically from the financial resources, whereas Europeans are perceived as contributing 100 billion euros to rebuild Ukraine.
A European representative who communicated with Euronews, requesting anonymity since the discussions are confidential, remarked that it was "unexpected to witness such a degree of economic harshness."
In Europe, maintaining the assets that are frozen within its territory serves as a strong instrument.
The difficulty for Europeans will be to offer a different strategy without provoking President Donald Trump, who is eager for a quick agreement.
"This is the most challenging moment," the diplomat remarked.
In a video message released on Friday, President Zelenskyy informed Ukrainians that the nation is confronted with an extreme dilemma: either sacrifice its honor or risk losing the backing of the United States.
