Marco Rubio informed US senators that the Ukraine peace proposal was not America’s but rather a Russian ‘wish list.’

Rubio Calls Peace Plan a Russian Proposal

Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared with U.S. senators that a detailed peace plan aimed at concluding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is not an American initiative, but rather a “leaked” Russian “wish list.”

During a session at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada, Rubio clarified that the 28-point plan was really a Russian suggestion and not something the U.S. had put together, as noted by South Dakota Republican Senator Mike Rounds.

“He made it very clear that we were the recipients of the proposal that was submitted to one of our representatives,” Rounds commented.

Rubio emphasized, “This is not our recommendation. This is not our peace plan. This is a proposal that was received, and as intermediaries, we made arrangements to share it. And we did not announce it. It was leaked.”

Lowndes added that the Trump administration views this as a potential starting point, suggesting that the plan “looks like it was written in Russian from the beginning.”

Senator Angus King from Maine echoed the sentiment, referring to the plan as a “Russian wish list.”

If adopted, the peace plan would require Kiev to relinquish the entire Donbas region, including territories that haven’t been under Moscow’s control for over ten years, reduce its military by one-third, and forgo NATO membership.

President Trump has reportedly set a deadline for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept the framework by Thanksgiving.

Speaking to reporters, Trump stated that the U.S. proposal was not his “final offer,” expressing that his patience was wearing thin. He remarked that should Zelenskyy refuse the plan, “then you can continue to fight in your own little heart.”

However, the plan is facing significant criticism domestically and beyond. European leaders expressed their discontent with the proposal, which is perceived as favorable to Moscow, and convened on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in South Africa to strategize ways to support Kiev and possibly amend the peace plan. President Zelenskyy has warned that accepting such terms may compromise Ukraine’s dignity and freedom.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz remarked at the summit that “wars cannot be ended by great powers beyond the heads of the affected countries,” indicating that there’s still a considerable distance to achieve a universally acceptable resolution.

Republican Senators Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham also criticized the plan, with McConnell attempting to cast President Trump in a negative light regarding his approach to the situation.

In further developments, Rubio and other U.S. officials are slated to meet with Ukrainian advisers and representatives from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in Geneva, Switzerland, to continue discussions leading up to talks with Russian officials.