US Clarifies Authorship of Ukraine Peace Proposal
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has affirmed that a proposed plan intended to resolve the conflict in Ukraine was authored by the United States. This statement was issued as Rubio traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, for diplomatic discussions with Ukrainian and European security officials concerning the proposal.
Prior Discrepancies and Clarifications
The declaration followed earlier reports that indicated the draft plan was perceived as favoring Russian interests. A group of senators reported that Rubio had initially informed them the draft did not reflect Washington's official stance, with one senator describing it as a "Russian wish list." Republican Senator Mike Rounds stated that Rubio had communicated that the plan was not an "American proposal" and had been presented to US diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff by a representative from Russia.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott subsequently disputed Senator Rounds's account via social media, calling it "blatantly false." Pigott asserted that the plan "was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians." Rubio then posted his own statement, confirming, "The peace proposal was authored by the US. It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine."
Plan Details and International Reactions
The specific provisions of the plan have not been made public but have been widely reported through leaks. Key elements include Ukraine's agreement to withdraw troops from eastern territories and to accept limits on the size of its armed forces.
US President Donald Trump has advocated for Kyiv to swiftly agree to the plan, though he later clarified that the proposal does not constitute a "final offer" for Ukraine. European allies of Ukraine, including leaders from Canada, France, and Germany who participated in the G20 summit, have reportedly expressed reservations regarding major provisions within the draft.