Under the terms of the reported outline agreement, Ukraine would have to relinquish occupied territory in the east, reduce its military by half, and give up some powerful weapons.
“For any peace plan to succeed, it must have Ukraine and Europe’s support,” Kallas stated in Brussels. “The pressure should be on the aggressor, not the victim. Rewarding aggression will only lead to more.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told European ministers at a private meeting in Brussels that the new proposals were clearly dictated by Russia. “Any peace plan based on appeasing the aggressor is not feasible,” he said, according to someone familiar with his remarks. “This will only result in more war and brutality for Ukraine and Europe.”
The latest proposal comes at a tense time in the nearly four-year conflict. Ukraine has suffered increased bombardments and losses recently, while Moscow is soon to face Trump’s sanctions on its major oil firms.
In Kyiv, a major corruption scandal has engulfed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government, pressuring him to reform his administration, as European governments struggle to agree on measures to continue supplying Ukraine with weapons and funds.
In this context, reports emerged this week that U.S. officials, led by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, have been in discussions with Russian representatives to revive stalled efforts for a ceasefire.
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