Ukraine-Russia conflict newest: Rubio hails ‘tremendous progress’ however Europe calls for adjustments to Trump’s peace plan | EUROtoday

European leaders are reportedly engaged on a counterproposal to the preliminary US-proposed 28-point peace plan, the Institute for the Study of War mentioned.

“Western outlets reported that France, the United Kingdom, and Germany drafted a counterproposal ahead of their talks with Ukrainian and American delegations in Geneva on November 23,” it mentioned.

“The 24-point counterproposal reportedly includes calls for an immediate ceasefire to precede discussions about territorial issues; for the cap on Ukraine’s military to be 800,000 ‘in peacetime’; for Ukraine to receive a security guarantee from the United States similar to North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (Nato) Article 5,” they said.

The counterproposal also includes calls “for the use of frozen Russian assets to fully reconstruct and financially compensate Ukraine; for Ukrainian membership in Nato to depend on consensus from alliance members; and for Ukraine to decide on the presence of foreign troops from guarantor states on Ukrainian territory”, the US-based assume tank monitoring the conflict mentioned.

The ‘deal’ being briefed out by Washington and Moscow is basically only a blueprint for Russian conquest.

World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley explains why it doesn’t must be that means:

The essential talks between US and Ukrainian officers obtained below means in a stiff environment on the US mission, quickly after Donald Trump complained in a Truth Social put up that Ukraine’s management had proven “zero gratitude” to the US for its efforts and Europe continued to purchase Russian oil.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio interrupted the assembly to talk to reporters, saying the talks had been most likely one of the best the US had held with Ukraine since Trump returned to energy.

“Obviously this will ultimately have to be signed off with our presidents, although I feel very comfortable about that happening given the progress we’ve made,” mentioned Rubio.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian delegation, was at pains to thank Trump for his dedication to Kyiv through the temporary interlude. Minutes later, Zelensky additionally thanked Trump.

Yermak didn’t reappear with Rubio when the talks ended.

Rubio has departed Geneva en route again to Washington, a senior State Department official mentioned.

European officers joined the US and Ukrainian delegations for talks after crafting a modified model of the US plan that pushes again on proposed limits to Kyiv’s armed forces and mooted territorial concessions.

The European plan proposes that Ukraine be granted a bigger army than below the US plan and that talks on land swaps ought to begin from the frontline quite than a pre-determined view of which areas ought to be thought-about Russian.

Trump has mentioned Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has till Thursday to approve the plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, settle for limits on its army and surrender ambitions to hitch Nato.

The United States and Ukraine mentioned they’d created an “updated and refined peace framework” to finish the conflict with Russia that apparently modified an earlier plan drafted by the Trump administration which Kyiv and its allies noticed as too sympathetic to Moscow.

In a joint assertion launched after talks in Geneva between US and Ukrainian delegations, the 2 sides mentioned their dialogue was “highly productive” and mentioned they might proceed in coming days.

They didn’t present specifics a couple of host of points that have to be resolved, together with tips on how to assure Kyiv’s safety from the menace posed by Russia.

In a separate assertion, the White House mentioned the brand new model included strengthened safety ensures, and that the Ukrainian delegation had mentioned it “reflects their national interests.”

Ukrainian officers didn’t present a separate assertion of their very own and weren’t instantly accessible for remark.

A counter-proposal, drafted by Europe’s E3 powers of Britain, France and Germany, emerged on Sunday as a substitute for the US plan. The 28-point counter is structurally based mostly on the unique proposal, with a number of caveats and amendments to the wording.

– The foundation for territory swaps is markedly completely different. The unique US proposal would see Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk recognised as de facto Russia. The counter proposal says Ukraine ought to decide to not taking again “occupied sovereign territory” by way of pressure. Negotiations on territory swaps would begin from current strains, it says.

– Ukraine’s standing army could be bigger than that initially proposed, at as much as 800,000 personnel from 600,000.

– Ukraine would additionally maintain elections “as soon as possible” after the signing of the peace settlement, quite than in 100 days.

– Ukraine would even be compensated financially, together with by way of frozen Russian sovereign belongings.

– Point 3, that there could be an expectation Russia wouldn’t invade its neighbours and NATO won’t increase additional, had been deleted.

A U.Ok. patrol ship has intercepted a Russian corvette and a tanker after shadowing them by way of the English Channel, the Defense Ministry mentioned Sunday, including that Russian naval exercise round U.Ok. waters had elevated by 30% over the previous two years.

With the previous two weeks, the patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted the Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya as they sailed by way of the English Channel, the ministry mentioned.

Lithuania’s Vilnius airport was closed once more on Sunday night because of smugglers’ balloons showing on radar.

The EU warned beforehand that such intrusions occurred within the context of a wider focused hybrid marketing campaign.

Multiple international locations have reported what they name acts of ‘hybrid’ warfare in latest months: