Ukraine’s Allies to Review US Peace Proposal at G20 Summit
Ukraine’s international partners will meet at the G20 summit in South Africa to evaluate and potentially reinforce a US-led proposal aimed at ending the war with Russia, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced.
The summit comes shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned that Ukraine is facing “one of the most difficult moments in our history,” amid mounting pressure to agree to the plan — details of which have leaked and been widely criticised as overly favourable to Moscow.
Zelensky spoke by phone on Friday with Sir Keir as well as the leaders of France and Germany. Following the calls, the British prime minister said Ukraine’s allies remain committed to achieving a “lasting peace once and for all.”
Neither US President Donald Trump nor Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the G20 gathering.
Leaked elements of the US blueprint include concessions that Kyiv has previously rejected, such as giving up control of certain eastern territories it currently holds. Washington has been urging Ukraine to consider the terms and sent senior Pentagon officials to Kyiv earlier in the week to present the proposals.
European officials have expressed concern that the plan could tilt heavily toward Russia’s interests. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the situation as “a very dangerous moment,” warning that the manner in which the conflict ends carries major consequences. She stressed that Russia is not entitled to territorial or political concessions and that any settlement must ultimately be decided by Ukraine.
Ahead of the G20 discussions, Sir Keir said world leaders would review the “current proposal on the table” and, while supporting President Trump’s stated push for peace, would consider how it might be strengthened in preparation for the next stage of negotiations.
He emphasised that Ukraine has long called for Russia to withdraw its forces, end the invasion, and stop its attacks, adding that Kyiv has signalled willingness to negotiate for months while Moscow has continued its military campaign.
“That is why we must work together — with both the United States and Ukraine — to secure a fair and lasting peace,” he said.
Under the US plan, Ukraine would be required to reduce the size of its armed forces and commit not to pursue membership in NATO — a long-time demand of the Kremlin.
Trump said on Friday that Ukraine risks losing more territory “in a short amount of time” and insisted that Zelensky “is going to have to approve” the deal. He also said he had given Ukraine a deadline of Thursday — the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States — calling the cutoff date “appropriate.”
