Ukraine, European allies reject key parts of US-Russia plan

Ben Sills and Arne Delfs, Bloomberg News on Nov 21, 2025

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Kyiv’s biggest European allies lined up with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reject key elements of a U.S.-Russian plan to end the war in Ukraine that would mean sweeping concessions to Vladimir Putin.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer of the U.K. agreed on a call with Zelenskyy on Friday that Ukraine’s armed forces must remain capable of defending its sovereignty and that the current line of contact should be the starting point for any peace talks, according to a statement from the German government.

Merz convened the call to formulate a response to a 28-point list of demands and proposals that Zelenskyy received from the U.S. The Ukrainian regions of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk would be “recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States,” according to the plan, a copy of which was seen by Bloomberg News. Ukraine would also be required to hold elections in 100 days and give up any hope of NATO membership.

“It’s about a just and lasting peace, and we consider elements of this plan to be effective towards this goal,” German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius told reporters in Berlin on Friday. “We want to participate constructively in guiding this into a dynamic that will bring us closer to our goal of a lasting peace in Ukraine.”

While the U.S. and Russia have largely sidelined European countries in their push to end the war, Europe’s response to their proposal is critical in shaping Ukraine’s next move. The European Union has been struggling to agree on a mechanism that would unlock about €140 billion ($160 billion) to sustain the Ukrainian war effort as the U.S. dials back its support for Kyiv.

European leaders will also meet on the sidelines of the Group of 20 conference in South Africa on Saturday to map out the next steps, according to a person familiar with matter. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who’s earned the reputation of having the ear of Donald Trump, is also expected to join, according to a person briefed on the plans, who asked not to named because the talks are private.