Leaders pose for a family photo on the first day of the G20 Leaders’ Summit at the Nasrec Expo Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22, 2025.
Missper Appo | via Reuters
European and other Western leaders said Saturday that the U.S. peace plan forms the basis for talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, but “additional work” is needed as part of Western efforts to get a better deal for Kiev by Thursday’s deadline.
Meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit, European and other Western leaders were rushing to find a coordinated response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for Ukraine to accept a 28-point peace plan with Russia by Thursday.
As Ukraine and its European allies stressed that the plan could serve as a basis for negotiations but needed to be changed, Trump said in brief remarks afterwards that his proposal was not the final one, suggesting there was room for tweaks.
European and other Western leaders agreed that the E3 national security advisers – France, Britain and Germany – will meet European Union, US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva on Sunday for further consultations. Diplomatic sources said Italy also plans to send officials.
The U.S. plan to back Russia’s key demands has come under cautious criticism in many European capitals, where leaders are trying to balance praise for President Trump for trying to end the fighting with recognition that some of the conditions in Trump’s proposal are uncomfortable for Kiev.
The leaders of the EU, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Italy, Japan and Norway said the “early draft of the 28-point plan contains key elements essential for a just and lasting peace.”
“We therefore believe that the draft is a foundation that requires additional work,” they said in a statement.
Leaders adopt ‘lion-like spirit’ in talks on US plan
French President Emmanuel Macron said: “There are many things that simply a proposal from the United States cannot do, and we need extensive consultations.” He added that a deal must enable peace for Ukrainians and “security for all Europeans.”
The two leaders met after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Friday that Ukraine faces a choice between losing its dignity and freedom, or whether the United States supports the plan. He appealed to the Ukrainian people for unity and promised never to betray Ukraine.
This signal prompted European leaders to rally.
German officials said the two leaders met in a room called the Lion in Johannesburg and brought the animal’s “spirit” into talks to agree on a way to secure a better deal for Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine for Europe.
“If Ukraine were to lose this war and potentially collapse, it would have repercussions for all of European politics, all of continental Europe. That’s why we’re working so hard on this issue,” Merz said on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
“We now have an opportunity to end this war, but we still have a long way to go before we achieve a positive outcome for everyone.”
Zelensky appealed to his country for unity.
“Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice: either lose its dignity or risk losing a key partner,” he said in an address to the nation on Friday. “I will fight 24/7 to ensure that at least two aspects of the plan are not overlooked: the dignity and freedom of the Ukrainian people.”
He suggested on Saturday that security guarantees would be essential to any agreement to “ensure that the principle that crimes against people and humanity, against states and nations, will be rewarded and forgiven does not permeate anywhere in Europe or the world.”
On the front lines, one of the Ukrainian soldiers, Vitaly Traikalo, 33, questioned why Ukraine should be forced to give up territory after three years of grueling fighting to fend off Russian attacks.
“Are we defending the border here just to let it go? What is the point of all this, all these sacrifices?” he asked, taking up his position in an artillery position near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
President Trump gives Ukraine tough deadline
On Friday, President Trump took a tough fight to Ukraine, saying Zelensky must approve by Thursday a 28-point plan calling for Ukraine to cede territory, accept military restrictions and abandon its ambitions to join NATO.
“He’s going to have to like it, and if he doesn’t, I think they should just keep fighting,” he said. “Someday he will have to accept what he has not yet accepted.”
Recalling his difficult meeting with Zelensky in February, Trump added: “You remember, a little while ago in the Oval Office, I said, ‘You don’t have a card.'”
Western leaders said in a statement that they were “concerned that the proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s military would leave it vulnerable to future attacks.”
“We reiterate that the implementation of the European Union-related elements and NATO-related elements requires the consent of EU Member States and NATO Member States, respectively.”
Sunday’s meeting in Geneva is now the focus, with European countries keen to propose changes to Trump’s plan that Russian President Vladimir Putin has said are fundamental to resolving the conflict.
