Ukraine allies push to strengthen US peace plan at G20 talks in South Africa

Ukraine's allies will seek to bolster the US-backed plan to end the war with Russia when they meet at the G20 summit in South Africa, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said.

The gathering comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of one of the most difficult moments in Ukraine's history amid pressure to accept the plan, the details of which have leaked and are seen by Kyiv's supporters as favourable to Moscow.

Zelensky spoke by phone with Sir Keir and with leaders of France and Germany on Friday. Afterwards, the British prime minister said Ukraine's friends and partners remained committed to securing a lasting peace.

Neither US President Donald Trump nor Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the summit.

The widely leaked US peace plan includes concessions Kyiv had previously ruled out: ceding eastern parts of the country, significantly reducing Ukraine's armed forces, and pledging not to join NATO. Washington has pressed Kyiv to accept the plan and has sent senior Pentagon officials to discuss its terms with Kyiv.

But European capitals have voiced concerns that the proposals tilt in Moscow's favour, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling the prospect of such an agreement a 'very dangerous moment'. She told reporters: "We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded, and the terms of any settlement are for Ukraine to decide."

Ahead of the Ukraine talks at the G20, Starmer said leaders 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".

He added: "Not a day has passed in this war where Ukraine hasn't called for Russia to end its illegal invasion, roll back its tanks and lay down its guns. Ukraine has been ready to negotiate for months, while Russia has stalled and continued its murderous rampage."

As part of the White House's plan, Kyiv would be required to shrink its army and pledge not to join NATO — a longstanding Kremlin demand.

Trump warned on Friday that Ukraine would lose more territory to Russia "in a short amount of time" and that Zelensky "is going to have to approve" the plan. He said Ukraine had until Thursday to agree to the plan, a deadline he described as "appropriate", though it could be extended if talks were progressing well.

Ukraine relies on Western weapons, including air defense systems, and has benefited from American intelligence since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

During a meeting with his security cabinet, Putin said the US had presented its peace plan and that it could form the basis for a settlement, though detailed talks had not yet taken place in Moscow. He said Russia was prepared to show flexibility but would continue to fight until its goals were met.

In a Kyiv address, Zelensky warned of pressure to weaken Ukraine or divide it and urged the country to stay united, stressing that Ukraine's national interests will guide any negotiations with partners in the United States and beyond.

The White House has pushed back on claims that Kyiv was left out of drafting the proposal, noting discussions with Ukraine's top security official, who helped shape the plan.

The leaked draft envisions Russia being reintegrated into the global economy, with sanctions lifted and Russia invited back to the G7, effectively restoring the group to the G8. It also outlines border stabilization with Donetsk and Luhansk under Russian control and Crimea, annexed in 2014, recognised as settled terms.

Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, and fighting continues along a long front line, with slow gains reported by Moscow.

In a Kyiv memorial scene, civilians laid flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims of a Russian strike, a reminder of the stakes in the negotiations ahead.

The draft also proposes freezing the borders of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia along current lines, with security guarantees to Ukraine and unspecified details. It suggests Russia will refrain from further invasions and NATO will not expand again.

Key takeaway: The G20 talks underscore the struggle to find a peace deal that stops the fighting while addressing core questions about concessions to Russia and Ukraine's right to determine its own security, a point of contention for Western allies. Source: BBC News.

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