Largely left out in the cold as President Donald Trump pressures Kyiv to accept his 28-point Ukraine peace plan, European leaders have been regrouping this weekend and trying to establish a role in peace talks.
If you’re just catching up, here’s a quick rundown:
• A potentially lopsided deal: Trump appears to be giving Moscow almost everything it wants, with the proposal calling for Kyiv to cede territory, limit the size of its military and promise not to join NATO in exchange for an end to the war.
• Europe on the back foot: Trump’s proposal was drawn up with little input from Ukraine or Europe. Huddling on the sidelines of the G20 summit yesterday to discuss the proposal, Kyiv’s allies scrambled to assemble a coordinated response, balancing a desire to push back against the proposal without alienating the US president.
• What they’ve said so far: While welcoming the US efforts in a statement yesterday, the European Council highlighted the “proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces” in the draft document as a particular area of worry. While noting the plan includes “important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace,” the European leaders said the outline needs “additional work.”
• A seat at the table: National security advisers from Germany, France and the United Kingdom will attend today’s meeting in Geneva with top US and Ukrainian officials, a diplomatic source told CNN. And for his part, Trump has indicated that the American team may have some leeway to modify the proposal, telling reporters yesterday that it’s not his “final offer.”
We’ll keep you updated on the latest from Geneva and on any wider developments from the Trump administration — stay with us.