Europe Proposes Its Version of Peace Plan – How It Differs from US Approach
European allies have presented an updated version of a “peace plan” for Ukraine, which differs significantly from the American proposal. The most controversial points proposed by the US have been removed or softened, and the key provisions have become more realistic and gradual.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to European Pravda.
In the area of security and relations with NATO, the EU plan foresees that the size of Ukraine’s armed forces in peacetime will be limited to 800,000 instead of the 600,000 proposed by the US. NATO membership will depend on the consensus of Alliance members, rather than a constitutional ban as suggested by the Americans. NATO will not station troops in Ukraine on a permanent basis during peacetime, whereas the American proposal prohibited any Alliance presence at all. The point regarding the “expectation” that Russia would not interfere in its neighbors’ affairs and that NATO would not expand has also been removed.
Regarding sanctions and reconstruction, the European version provides for their phased coordination rather than the US approach of immediate lifting. Ukraine will receive financial compensation, including from frozen Russian assets, until the damages caused are fully reimbursed. US proposals for large investments and profits for the American side have been excluded.
In the legal sphere, the EU plan focuses on implementing EU standards for religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities. American provisions banning “any Nazi ideology” are not included.
Regarding territories, Ukraine is obliged not to retake occupied lands by military means, and negotiations on territorial exchanges will begin from the front line after a ceasefire. The European plan does not include requirements to transfer any territories to Russia or recognize Crimea as Russian, which is a significant difference from the American version.
The political process also differs: elections are to be held “as soon as possible” after the agreement is signed, without strict deadlines as in the US plan. Measures to alleviate the suffering of conflict victims are included, but the American demand for full amnesty for all participants in the war, including war criminals, is absent.
Earlier, European allies of Ukraine expressed serious concerns regarding key elements of the peace plan proposed by the US administration to resolve the war with Russia. Following a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leaders of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom emphasized that Ukraine’s armed forces must retain the ability to defend their sovereignty, and that the current front line can serve only as a starting point for possible negotiations. European capitals rejected the provisions of the American plan concerning the de facto recognition of occupied territories by Russia, the constitutional enshrinement of Ukraine’s neutral status, and a sharp reduction of its defense capabilities.
Nevertheless, European leaders described the US proposal as a “valuable starting point” containing some important elements, but noted that the initial draft does not meet the standards necessary for a just and lasting peace.
At the same time, more than 40 European parliamentarians and Ukrainian MPs sent a letter to US President Donald Trump calling for continued strong support for Ukraine, increased assistance to protect its sovereignty, and the assurance of stability in Europe and the world. The leaders stressed that any weakness on the part of the West encourages aggression by authoritarian regimes and undermines global security, and that the peace process cannot take place without Ukraine’s direct participation.
As The Gaze reported earlier, in Geneva, the US and Ukraine reported significant progress in developing the American plan to end the war, calling the latest negotiations the most successful in the entire process.
Read more on The Gaze: From Washington to Brussels: How the EU Sees the Peace Proposal