A significant diplomatic row has erupted in Washington after US politicians alleged that Secretary of State Marco Rubio described a proposed peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine war as a "wish list" from Russia, rather than an official US proposal.
Contradictory Accounts and the 28-Point Proposal
The controversy centres on a 28-point peace plan being promoted by President Donald Trump's administration. According to US senators, Secretary Rubio privately told them the proposal heavily favoured Moscow. However, the State Department has firmly denied this version of events.
Publicly, Mr Rubio has directly contradicted the senators' account. He has asserted that the proposal was, in fact, authored by the United States. He clarified that while the plan incorporated input from both the Russian and Ukrainian sides, its origin was American.
A Plan Seen as Favouring Moscow
The proposed terms have drawn sharp criticism for being highly favourable to the Kremlin. Critics point out that the plan includes demands for Ukraine to cede significant territory, a condition that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously rejected.
Senators expressed deep concern that the plan effectively rewards Russian aggression and could set a dangerous international precedent. The sentiment was so strong that one senator remarked the document "looked more like it was written in Russian".
The international reaction has been divided. Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the proposal. In contrast, President Zelensky has, so far, not rejected it outright. Instead, he has emphasised the need for fair treatment and a positive outcome to finally end the conflict.
