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European leaders and the UN on Friday called for greater involvement from Kyiv and its allies as they guardedly pushed back against a proposed US plan to end the war in Ukraine largely on Russia’s terms.
The US 28-point plan, backed by President Donald Trump, calls for major concessions by Kyiv, including giving up part of its eastern territory and slashing its military.
Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky largely rejected the proposals, saying “we did not betray Ukraine (at the start of the war in 2022), we will not do so now”.
But he warned that “Ukraine may face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner”.
He said he would propose alternatives.
Russia
The Kremlin insisted it had not officially seen the plan, but a spokesman warned Zelensky that “it is better to negotiate and do it now”, adding that “the space for the freedom of decision-making is shrinking for him as territories are lost during offensive actions by the Russian army”.
Read moreWhat is the US-backed, 28-point peace plan for Ukraine?
France, Germany, Britain
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for a solution that “fully” involves Kyiv.
In a phone call with Zelensky, they said “all decisions with implications for the interests of Europe and NATO require the joint support and consensus of European partners and NATO allies”.
EU
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said any workable plan “needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board. We have to understand that in this war, there is one aggressor and one victim”.
“So we haven’t heard of any concessions on the Russian side.”
Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke with Merz, after which her office said they “reaffirmed the ultimate goal of achieving a just and lasting peace, in the interest of all of Europe,” adding that “other elements of the plan were deemed worthy of further exploration”.
Hungary
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday said that the coming weeks will be key to stop the war.
“This peace plan includes propositions on which the Russians and the Americans have already held preliminary discussions,” Orban said.
“I think we’re at a decisive moment, the next two or three weeks will be crucial.”
UN
UN chief Antonio Guterres said any peace solution should “abide by the resolutions of the General Assembly that clearly indicated that the territorial integrity of Ukraine … must be respected”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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