Ukraine’s supporters have urged Washington to revise its proposed roadmap for ending the conflict with Russia, signalling that the plan, in its current form, leaves unresolved questions that could shape the region’s long-term stability.
Their concerns surfaced on Saturday during the G20 summit in South Africa, where several governments backing Kyiv released a joint message outlining what they see as gaps in the US approach.
The statement was endorsed by leaders from Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Germany, Norway and two senior EU officials.
It welcomed some elements of the draft, describing them as helpful for achieving a durable peace, but noted the need for further discussion on the future of Ukraine’s borders and the strength of its armed forces.
“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,” the leaders said. 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 pointed out that some aspects of the plan involving the EU and Nato “would need the consent of EU and Nato members respectively”, indicating that decisions cannot be made without wider agreement from all member states.
The US-proposed 28-point document includes a withdrawal by Ukrainian troops from the section of Donetsk they now hold, while confirming Russia’s hold over Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea.
It proposes halting the front line in the occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, capping Ukraine’s armed forces at 600,000, and placing European jets in Poland rather than inside Ukraine.
While promising “reliable security guarantees”, the plan does not give full details of how these protections would work or who would enforce them.
It also says “it is expected” that Russia will not attack its neighbours and that Nato will not expand further. The draft further suggests sanctions on Moscow could be removed and that Russia could be invited back into the G7 to restore it to the G8.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged deep pressure from Washington to respond to the proposal, telling the country that “today is one of the most difficult moments in our history”.
He warned Ukraine “might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner”, while promising to deal with the discussions “constructively”.
On Saturday, Zelensky said Andriy Yermak would head Ukraine’s team for any future negotiations tied to the plan.
“Our representatives know how to defend Ukraine's national interests and exactly what must be done to prevent Russia from launching a third invasion, another strike against Ukraine,” he said.
Ukraine continues to depend on US weapons, especially air defence systems and battlefield intelligence that remain central to its resistance to Russia’s full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
On Friday, President Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia had reviewed the US document, saying it had not yet been explored in depth at the Kremlin. He said Russia was ready to “show flexibility”, but also stressed it was prepared to continue fighting.
More talks are set for Sunday in Geneva, where officials from Ukraine, the US, the UK, France and Germany will examine the issues in detail. This comes as Russian forces keep pushing in parts of south-eastern Ukraine, where heavy combat has continued for months.
