🔗 Share this article Trump States Deal Plan Isn't Ultimate Proposal as Representatives Convene for Swiss Summit Former President Trump stated this past weekend that his Moscow-drafted proposal for peace was not his ultimate proposal, following fierce backlash from Ukraine's officials and commentators who compared it to a 1938 Munich agreement between Chamberlain and Hitler. In short remarks at the White House, Trump told reporters: Our goal is to achieve peace. This should have occurred earlier … we’re trying to get it ended, in any case we have to get it ended." Upcoming Switzerland Talks Include Various Nations US and Ukrainian delegates will meet in Geneva on Sunday to discuss this proposal. Security officials from Germany, France, and the UK are expected to join these negotiations there. Ahead of the talks, American lawmakers told media outlets that State Department head Marco Rubio reached out to them while en route to Switzerland to clarify the details of the leaked plan. He said, this plan did not originate from the administration but rather a "wish list of the Russians", as reported by Senator King, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ukraine's President Faces Crucial Time Limit Nevertheless, the former president has given Zelenskyy a deadline of Thursday to sign the 28-point document. The document requires Kyiv to cede territory under its control to Russia, downsize its military forces, and surrender long-range weapons. It also excludes a European peacekeeping force and penalties for atrocities committed by Russia. During a solemn speech last Friday, the Ukrainian leader warned that his country confronts a difficult decision over the coming days involving keeping its national dignity and forfeiting a major partner like the United States. Zelenskyy acknowledged that it faces an extremely challenging period in its history. Ukraine's Negotiating Team Appointed for Upcoming Talks In comments on Saturday, Zelenskyy emphasized that real or "dignified" resolution depends on assured safety and fairness. He revealed a delegation, established through a decree, which will meet its US counterparts in Switzerland, headed by top aide Andriy Yermak. Another member from Ukraine's team, former defence minister and national security council secretary Umerov, said there would be consultations with Washington regarding potential terms for a peace deal. Suggesting limits, Umerov added: Ukraine enters these talks with defined goals. This represents a continuation of recent discussions focused on harmonizing our plans for future actions." International Reaction and Concerns Zelenskyy has attempted to participate positively with a White House apparently intent to end the conflict based on Russian conditions. He has made clear he cannot give up the nation's independence or disregard a constitution that protects the country’s current borders. During a summit held in South Africa, leaders from the G20 and EU representatives issued a joint statement opposing Trump’s plan, stating it requires "additional work". The statement indicated that members of the EU and NATO must be involved on some of its provisions, which rule out Ukraine's NATO accession and impose terms on its future EU accession. Public Views in Kyiv Ukrainian reaction to the text, drawn up by Putin’s envoy and a US delegate, has been overwhelmingly hostile. Commentators said it was a blueprint for another Russian invasion: targeting not just Ukraine but other European regions too. Mustafa Nayyem, a public figure who led Ukraine’s 2014 pro-democracy Maidan revolution, remarked it invited parallels with Chamberlain’s infamous Munich deal. The proposal belonged to the same "recognisable genre", with the victim invited to outline its own surrender for broader convenience. On social media, Nayyem said he was outraged by the complete pardon for Russian atrocities. It was an insult people who had hidden in basements in Bucha or Mariupol – where Russian troops executed hundreds of civilians – and families of deported children to Russian territory. "A rather cynical agreement," he stated. Speaking in Kyiv’s Golden Gate metro station, Dmytro Sariskyi, a young adult, said that Moscow had been trying to dominate Ukraine over many years. The agreement offered very little in the proposed deal and maintained troops in Ukraine. In my view, this deal aims to undermine Ukraine and impose unfair terms, he said. If Zelenskyy signed off on the proposals it would be compelled to give up its freedoms, he said. If rejected, the US might cease collaboration and intelligence exchange, a crucial source of military intelligence for frontline Ukrainian troops. Currently, there is no favorable solution, he noted. Varied Perspectives from Ukrainian Citizens Another passenger, 19-year-old Barchan, said that Ukraine would remain resilient lacking US backing. We will continue our struggle as needed. Crimea and the eastern regions are part of Ukraine. They are Ukrainian land." She said Zelenskyy was a "smart person" and predicted he would not cede territory. Speaking during rainfall, near a historical monument, Olena Ivanovna mentioned she was grateful to the former US leader for his attempts to broker peace. She said that Ukraine ought to consider ceding Crimea and the eastern Donbas region for a limited time if it meant maintaining US support. The president should conduct a public vote on this matter, she said. European Leaders Condemn the Plan Previous European leaders have roundly condemned this proposal. Finland’s former prime minister Marin called it a catastrophe, not only for Ukraine and Ukrainians but for democracies worldwide. She warned if Western nations display vulnerability – similar to the 2014 Crimea annexation – "more aggression and conflicts" could arise. Belgium's ex-PM, Guy Verhofstadt, quoted Churchill’s definition regarding appeasement as "one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last". He continued: "Trump now takes Putin’s side. Europe faces a choice between compromise and principles. Another moment of truth for our [European] union."