WSJ: Europe pushes back against US peace proposal for Ukraine

European officials are signalling clear resistance to a new U.S. proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, highlighting a growing transatlantic tension over how to negotiate peace with Moscow, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The Trump administration drafted a 28-point plan that calls for Kyiv to make significant territorial concessions and limits the size and capabilities of Ukraine’s military, while dropping proposals for a peacekeeping force to deter future Russian aggression.

European diplomats, who were not consulted in drafting the plan, warned that any deal must have Ukraine’s consent and stressed that peace should not come at the cost of Ukrainian sovereignty. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, emphasised that “one aggressor and one victim” exist in the conflict, underscoring Europe’s insistence that Russia must also make concessions.

The plan reportedly mirrors the approach Washington used to broker a ceasefire in Gaza: present a multipoint outline and pressure the parties to accept it. Critics argue that this could risk Ukraine’s security and destabilise the region further. The proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces, combined with the lack of a reassurance force, could leave Kyiv vulnerable to renewed Russian attacks.

European officials now face the familiar challenge of influencing U.S. policy from afar, attempting to steer Washington away from proposals they view as excessively favourable to Russia. While the Trump administration appears committed to the plan, its willingness to incorporate European or Ukrainian feedback remains uncertain.

By Vugar Khalilov