Ukraine’s Allies to Strengthen US Peace Plan Amid Russia Tensions

Ukraine’s allies are set to meet at the G20 summit in South Africa to discuss ways to “strengthen” a US-brokered plan aimed at ending the war with Russia. The summit begins a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine faces “one of the most difficult moments in our history” due to pressure to accept the plan, which has been widely seen as favorable to Moscow.

President Zelensky held phone calls on Friday with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the leaders of France and Germany. Following the talks, Starmer said Ukraine’s international partners remain committed to securing a “lasting peace once and for all.”

Neither US President Donald Trump nor Russian President Vladimir Putin are attending the G20 summit.

US Peace Plan and Controversy

The US plan, whose details have been widely leaked, includes proposals that Ukraine had previously rejected. Among these, Kyiv would need to give up control of some eastern territories, reduce the size of its military, and commit to not joining NATO—demands long sought by Russia.

Senior US military officials recently visited Kyiv to discuss the plan with Ukrainian leaders. While Washington is pushing for a quick acceptance, some European leaders have expressed concern that the proposals heavily favor Moscow. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the potential adoption of the plan a “very dangerous moment,” emphasizing that “the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide.”

G20 Summit Focus

Ahead of the summit, Sir Keir Starmer said world leaders would discuss the current proposal and explore ways to strengthen the plan for future negotiations. “Ukraine has been ready to negotiate for months, while Russia has stalled and continued its murderous rampage,” Starmer said. “We must work together, with both the US and Ukraine, to secure a just and lasting peace once and for all.”

Trump’s Pressure on Ukraine

US President Donald Trump has warned that Ukraine could lose more territory to Russia if it does not approve the plan. He set a deadline of Thursday, US Thanksgiving, for Kyiv to respond, calling it an “appropriate” time to decide.

The situation highlights rising international tension as Ukraine weighs the US peace plan while trying to protect its sovereignty and maintain its alliances in Europe.