European officials stated that the 28-point proposal put forward by the United States regarding Ukraine is "a draft" and needs to ...
European officials stated that the 28-point proposal put forward by the United States regarding Ukraine is "a draft" and needs to be revised 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 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 convene once more on Monday.
Crucial week for Ukraine and Europe
European nations and their partners are conducting critical discussions on the margins of the G20 summit in South Africa to protect Ukraine from being forced into a hurried agreement that might leave Kyiv vulnerable to future attacks.
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 be introducing an alternative proposal.
The worries of the Europeans revolve around three key issues: independence, land areas, and Russia's compensation for the war.
A statement released on Saturday asserts that borders cannot be altered through force, serving as a criticism of the 28-point plan that demands substantial territorial changes from Ukraine, such as ceding all of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk to Russia.
In their declaration, the leaders also emphasize their opposition to decreasing 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 believe that the nation's military should be enhanced and expanded in the coming years to prevent potential future attacks.
Finally, Europeans are divided on how to handle the frozen Russian 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 US 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 would gain economically from the financial support, whereas Europeans are perceived as contributing 100 billion euros to rebuild Ukraine.
A European representative, who spoke with Euronews while remaining anonymous because the discussions are confidential, remarked that it was "unexpected to witness such a degree of economic harshness."
For Europe, maintaining the assets 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 stated.
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.
