Hopes of a breakthrough in the war in Ukraine this week were dashed on Monday after Moscow dismissed a European peace proposal as “completely unconstructive”. The rejection came after the United States and Ukraine announced they had drafted a “refined peace framework” following talks in Geneva.
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow that the European counterproposal to a 28-point US peace plan was not helpful. “The European plan, at first glance ... is completely unconstructive and does not work for us,” he said.
Despite the setback, US President Donald Trump hinted at progress on Truth Social, writing: “Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his delegation was returning from Geneva to report back, and that he would continue working with partners on peace proposals.
The initial US plan has been widely criticised for favouring Russia. Former MI6 head Sir Alex Younger said it would reduce Ukraine to Russia’s “tethered goat” and “almost guarantee” another invasion. The plan reportedly requires Kyiv to give up Nato ambitions and European allies to agree not to station troops in Ukraine.
Zelensky, speaking via video link from Sweden, said Russia must pay for the war and that a decision on using frozen Russian assets was crucial. “Right now, we are at a critical moment,” he said. “There is a lot of noise in the media, and all the political pressure, and even greater responsibility for the decisions ahead.”
