EU rejects restrictions on Ukraine’s army in rebuke to Trump's plan “Borders cannot be changed by force”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautioned on Sunday that a U.S. framework aimed at ending the war in Ukraine could leave the country exposed to future Russian aggression if it imposes limits on Kyiv’s armed forces.

Speaking after talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa, von der Leyen outlined a series of red lines in response to proposals being put forward by President Donald Trump’s administration, Caliber.Az reports via Western media.

The American plan reportedly suggests that Ukraine make territorial concessions to Moscow, halve the size of its military, and provide Washington with a 50 per cent cut of reconstruction profits.

“Any credible and sustainable peace plan should first and foremost stop the killing and end the war, while not sowing the seeds for a future conflict,” von der Leyen said.

The Commission president emphasised three key criteria for any peace deal. “First, borders cannot be changed by force. Second, as a sovereign nation, Ukraine cannot face limitations on its armed forces that would leave it vulnerable to future attacks and thereby undermine European security. Third, the centrality of the European Union in securing peace for Ukraine must be fully reflected,” she said. “Ukraine must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny. They have chosen a European destiny.”

Allies held crisis talks during the summit, and EU leaders are scheduled to continue discussions on Monday during a joint visit to Angola. European Council President António Costa acknowledged U.S. efforts to end the war but described the current proposal as “a basis which will require additional work.”

EU officials are also meeting in Geneva for U.S.-brokered talks on ending the conflict, seeking to ensure that European concerns are taken into account. Capitals have stressed that no peace agreement should proceed without direct input from Ukraine.

European governments and Kyiv have voiced frustration at being largely excluded from the drafting of the 28-point U.S. plan, which critics argue rewards Russian aggression and could leave the door open to future invasions.

Meanwhile, Trump appears to have stepped back from a Thursday deadline for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept the U.S. proposal, noting that the deal is “not my final offer.”

By Khagana Isayev