US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that his Russia-Ukraine peace plan is not his “final offer”. He issued this clarification as Western allies raised new concerns about key parts of the proposal. His remark came moments after Europe, Canada, and Japan said the draft included points “essential for a just and lasting peace” but still “required additional work”.
These allies said they worried about possible border changes and limits on Ukraine’s military. Security officials from the US, UK, France, Germany, and Ukraine will now meet in Geneva, Switzerland, to review the 28-point plan. Trump has told Ukraine to respond by 27 November. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already said the draft could be the “basis” for a settlement.
When reporters asked Trump if this draft was the final offer, he replied, “No, not my final offer.” He added, “One way or another, we have to get it [the war] ended, so we’re working on it.” US Secretary Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will join the talks in Geneva on Sunday.
Western allies express concerns
A joint statement on Saturday highlighted these concerns. Leaders of Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Germany, Norway, and top EU officials signed it during the G20 Summit in South Africa.
They wrote, “We believe, therefore, that the draft is a basis which will require additional work. We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable. We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force.”
They added, “We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack.” The statement also said that any parts involving the European Union or NATO would need approval from member states.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to both Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump. A Downing Street spokesperson said Starmer “relayed the discussions that have been taking place between Coalition of the Willing partners” at the G20 Summit. The spokesperson added that both leaders agreed to let their teams work together in Geneva and speak again on Sunday.
Details of the peace plan
The leaked US peace plan asks Ukraine to withdraw troops from parts of eastern Donetsk that it still holds. It also gives Russia de facto control over Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. The plan freezes the current battle lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, regions that Russia partially occupies.
The draft also caps Ukraine’s army at 600,000 personnel. It suggests placing European fighter jets in Poland. It says Ukraine will receive “reliable security guarantees”, though it gives no clear details. The document also says “it is expected” that Russia will not invade its neighbours and NATO will not expand further.
Trump’s clarification came a day after he said Zelenskyy would “have to like” the plan. He warned that without an agreement, Ukraine and Russia would keep fighting. After this remark, Zelenskyy addressed the nation. He told Ukrainians they “might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner”. He added, “Today is one of the most difficult moments in our history,” and promised to work “constructively” with the US.