US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed that the contentious peace plan presented to Ukraine was crafted by the United States, following criticism from a Republican colleague who labeled it a “Russian wish list.” The leaked 28-point proposal aimed at halting Kremlin’s aggression in Ukraine raised concerns in Kyiv and European capitals.
On Saturday, US lawmakers expressed doubts about the document’s authenticity, with Republican senator Mike Rounds stating that the US was not accountable for the current version of the release. He emphasized that the plan was not a US recommendation or peace initiative but rather a leaked proposal that had been shared as an intermediary.
Rounds, in conjunction with bipartisan colleagues, reported that Rubio had clarified the situation during a phone call, asserting that the draft plan seemed to have originated from Russian origins and resembled a Russian agenda. However, the US State Department promptly refuted Rounds’ version of events, calling it blatantly false.
In response, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott discredited Rounds’ claims, asserting that the peace plan was indeed authored by the United States with input from both Russia and Ukraine. Rubio also took to social media to confirm the US’s role in creating the 28-point plan and emphasized its significance in ongoing negotiations.
The confusion surrounding the peace agreement coincides with international leaders’ preparations for crucial discussions on Ukraine at the G20 summit in South Africa, where parts of the US President’s peace plan were rejected. Despite the tight deadline given to Ukraine to respond to the deal, global leaders, including UK PM Keir Starmer, deemed that additional work was necessary due to territorial concessions and military reductions demanded from Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concerns about the dilemma his country faces in balancing its sovereign rights with the need for US support. The situation remains fluid as diplomatic efforts continue amidst diverging views on the proposed peace plan.