European allies and Ukraine have responded to Vladimir Putin's plan to end hostilities in Ukraine with a counterproposal, which they say should serve as a framework for the upcoming talks between US President Donald Trump and the Russian leader to gain momentum, writes the Wall Street Journal, quoted by FOKUS, citing European officials familiar with the negotiations.
The European plan rejects the Russian proposal to exchange the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Donetsk region for an end to the war. It was presented at a meeting with senior US officials in England on Saturday, August 9.
The Ukrainian-European plan was presented to US Vice President J.D. Vance during a meeting in Britain. Other US officials, notably Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Presidential Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg and Russia Envoy Steve Witkoff, were present via video conference.
According to the proposal, a ceasefire must be achieved before any further steps towards a peace settlement can be taken. The plan also states that the exchange of territory can only take place on a reciprocal basis, i.e. if Ukraine withdraws its troops from some regions, Russia must withdraw its troops from others.
In addition, any territorial concessions by Kiev must be backed by strong security guarantees, in particular with Ukraine's potential membership in NATO.
“You cannot start a process by giving up territory during hostilities“, one of the European negotiators said.
Some European officials quoted by the WSJ indicated that if Ukraine surrenders the entire Donetsk region to Russia, Moscow will have to withdraw its troops from the captured parts of Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.
Earlier, the publication reported that Vladimir Putin presented the administration of US President Donald Trump with a plan for a ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian war in exchange for territorial concessions from Kiev.
In particular, Ukraine must withdraw troops from the entire Donetsk region, and Crimea should be recognized as sovereign territory of the Russian Federation.
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has again defended President Donald Trump's decision to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"For those who criticize President Trump for being willing to meet with Putin to end the bloodbath in Ukraine – remember that Reagan met with Gorbachev to try to end the Cold War", Graham said.
(Editor's note - Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Geneva in 1985. The goal is to reduce tensions during the Cold War).
"I am confident that President Trump will leave – like Reagan – "if Putin insists on a bad deal," Graham added, wishing Trump success in his efforts to end the war.