US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reaffirmed that the contentious peace proposal presented to Ukraine was drafted by the United States, following criticism from a fellow Republican leader who described it as a “Russian wish list.”
The 28-point plan aimed at resolving the Kremlin’s aggression in Ukraine caused concern in Kyiv and European capitals after being leaked earlier in the week.
On Saturday, a group of US lawmakers raised doubts about the document, claiming it did not represent the official stance of the US government.
Republican senator Mike Rounds, speaking at a security conference in Canada, stated that the US was not behind the leaked version of the proposal. He emphasized that it was not a recommendation or a peace plan endorsed by the US.
Rounds and other bipartisan politicians at the conference reported that Rubio had personally informed them that the proposal was not originated by the US and appeared to have a Russian influence.
Following these claims, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott denied Rounds’ version of events, calling it “blatantly false.”
Rubio took to Twitter to clarify the origins of the 28-point plan, stating that it was authored by the United States with input from both Russian and Ukrainian sources.
The confusion surrounding the draft agreement coincides with crucial discussions on Ukraine at the G20 summit in South Africa, which Donald Trump chose not to attend. Some international leaders, including UK PM Keir Starmer, raised concerns about elements of the US President’s peace plan, calling for further refinement.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine expressed the dilemma his country faces in balancing its sovereign rights with the necessary support from the US.
Opting out of data sharing and cookie usage is possible by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button on the website. Your use of our services implies acceptance of cookie usage as detailed in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.