Allies Seek to ‘Strengthen’ US Peace Plan at G20 as Zelenskyy Warns of ‘Impossible Choice’

JOHANNESBURG —  Ukraine’s key European allies are moving to intervene in the US-led push for a peace deal with Russia, with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirming that leaders at the G20 summit in South Africa will seek to “strengthen” the American proposal.

The summit begins amidst intense pressure on Kyiv to accept the plan—which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called “one of the most difficult moments in our history”—and a growing nervousness in Europe over its perceived concessions to Moscow.

Ahead of the G20 meetings, which neither US President Donald Trump nor Russian President Vladimir Putin are attending, Sir Keir held phone talks with President Zelenskyy and the leaders of France and Germany.

The UK leader stated that Ukraine’s “friends and partners” would “discuss the current proposal on the table, and in support of President Trump’s push for peace, look at how we can strengthen this plan for the next phase of negotiations.”

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was more pointed, calling the potential adoption of the current terms a “very dangerous moment.” She insisted, “Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded, ultimately the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide.”

Leaked details reveal the White House’s plan includes proposals Kyiv had previously ruled out. If adopted, Ukraine would be obliged to:

Withdraw troops from the part of the eastern Donetsk region it currently controls, granting Russia de facto control over Donetsk, Luhansk, and the annexed Crimea peninsula.

Significantly cut the size of its army and pledge not to join the NATO military alliance.

Russia would be “reintegrated into the global economy,” sanctions would be lifted, and Russia would be invited to rejoin the G7, making it the G8 again.

President Trump confirmed he gave Ukraine until Thursday (Thanksgiving in the US) to agree to the plan, warning that Ukraine would lose more territory “in a short amount of time” if it refused.

Zelenskyy, in a measured address, admitted Ukraine “might face a very difficult choice: either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner,” but pledged to “calmly work with America and all the partners… offering alternatives.”