CaliToday (24/11/2025): The Biden-era diplomatic alignment against Russian aggression is facing a massive rupture after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders from major European powers France, Germany, and the UK rejected key components of the new U.S. plan aimed at ending the war, a proposal reportedly drafted after initial consultations with the Kremlin, Bloomberg reports.
The Quashing of the Proposal
On November 21, Zelenskyy held a crucial phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The leaders discussed the U.S.'s new 28-point proposal, which has been severely criticized for overwhelmingly favoring Moscow.
The European leaders unequivocally backed Zelenskyy's core demands:
Military Capability: The Ukrainian military must retain its fighting capacity to secure Ukraine's long-term defense.
Negotiation Baseline: The current frontline must serve as the starting point for any genuine peace negotiations.
This unified stance effectively constitutes a non-endorsement of the U.S. peace plan. The reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously signaled support for the framework, remains officially undisclosed, but the pushback creates a major diplomatic hurdle for his administration.
The Shocking Terms of the 28 Points
The proposal, which Ukraine received on November 20, includes highly provocative and non-starter demands for Kyiv, effectively asking Ukraine to cede sovereign territory and limit its national security capabilities:
Territorial Recognition: The plan calls for the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as Crimea, to be "de facto recognized as Russian, including U.S. recognition." This direct acknowledgment of Russian illegal annexation is a red line for both Kyiv and the EU.
Military Drawdown: The Ukrainian military would be forced to reduce its size to 600,000 troops.
Political Constraints: Kyiv must hold presidential elections within 100 days after the war concludes and constitutionally renounce NATO membership.
These demands specifically the forced territorial surrender and military shrinkage—were the primary reasons for the swift European and Ukrainian rejection.
Diplomatic Scramble at G20
The diplomatic crisis prompted immediate action. Bloomberg, citing internal sources, reports that the European leaders plan to meet on November 22 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africa to discuss next steps for ending Russia's war.
Zelenskyy will not be present, but in a notable move, the leaders intend to invite Finnish President Alexander Stubb who is widely known to be one of the few European figures Donald Trump listens to closely to the side meeting. This is a clear strategic move by Europe to establish an alternative diplomatic channel to the Trump administration.
The Door Remains Ajar
The unified opposition from Kyiv and Europe was foreshadowed on November 20, when Ukraine’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Khrystyna Gayovishin, spoke at an emergency UN Security Council meeting. She affirmed Ukraine's support for peace talks but stated flatly that Kyiv would not agree to recognize temporarily occupied territories as Russian and would decide its own political future—a clear pre-emptive rejection of the U.S. proposal's core terms.
However, a glimmer of influence remains. According to Axios, the U.S. has indicated a willingness to amend the 28-point plan. This suggests the document is not final and could potentially be modified following discussions with both the Ukrainian and Russian sides. The coming days will test the diplomatic leverage of Ukraine and its European allies against the formidable pressure being exerted by the White House.