The head of North American diplomacy, Marco Rubio, insisted this Saturday that the conflict resolution plan in Ukraine announced this week comes from the United States and it does not just correspond to Russia’s demands, as American senators have stated.
The United States Secretary of State denied the statements made by three US senators, according to whom Rubio told them that the plan corresponds to a Russian “wish list” and it is not of Washington’s making.
“The peace proposal was written by the United States”contested the Secretary of State on the social network X.
This text “presents a solid framework for negotiations. It is based on elements provided by the Russian side, but also on contributions from Ukraine“, he further argued.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott had previously described as “completely false” the statements made by three senators, Republican Mike Rounds, independent Angus King and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, according to whom Rubio had confided in them that the document does not correspond to the official position of the United States, but simply represents a starting point for discussions.
At a security conference in Canada – the Halifax International Security Forum – King said Rubio told them in a phone call that the plan was “not the government’s plan” but a “Russian wish list.”
“Secretary Rubio called us this afternoon. I think he explained to us very clearly that we are the recipients of a proposal that was transmitted to one of our representatives. It is not our recommendation. Not our peace plan“, confirmou Mike Rounds.
“This government was not responsible for this version in its current form,” Rounds said. “They want to use it as a starting point,” he added. “For starters, it looks like it was written in Russian at first”concluded the Republican senator.
Still considering the plan, the three senators also stated that the text would only reward Moscow for its aggression and would send a message to other leaders who threaten neighbors.
Senators’ opposition to the plan follows criticism from other US lawmakers, including some Republicans.
“It rewards aggression, pure and simple. There is no ethical, legal, moral or political justification for Russia to claim eastern Ukraine” said King during a panel discussion at the forum in Halifax.
Putin welcomed the proposal on Friday night, saying it “could form the basis of a definitive peace agreement” if the US could get Ukraine and European allies to agree.
Zelenskyy did not reject the plan outright, but insisted on fair treatment, while pledging to “work calmly” with Washington and other partners in what he called “one of the most difficult moments” in the country’s history.
Donald Trump gave Zelensky a deadline of November 27 for Kiev to respond to the proposed solutions, however, this Saturday, the North American President answered “no” to the question whether his plan was his “last offer”.
“We’re trying to put an end to this. One way or another, we have to put an end to this,” Trump told the press, without adding details.
Rubio is expected in Geneva today, with Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, for discussions with Ukrainians and Europeans, who are concerned about the 28-point American plan that aims to end almost four years of conflict provoked by the Russian invasion.
The document takes up several Russia’s fundamental demandsnamely that Ukraine cede territories to it, agree to reduce the size of the army and renounce integration into NATO. In return, it offers Western security guarantees to Kiev to prevent further Russian attacks.