Latest news with #Ukrainian-European
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Full text of US peace proposal at odds with Ukrainian, EU positions, Reuters reports
Reuters on April 25 published the full text of a U.S. peace proposal presented by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to European officials in Paris on April 17, offering the clearest look yet at the Trump administration's plan to end Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine. The publication also released a delivered by Ukrainian and European officials earlier this week. The expose disagreements on critical issues, including territorial concessions, sanctions relief, security guarantees, and the size of Ukraine's armed forces. The U.S. draft includes a provision to legally recognize Russia's 2014 and de facto accept Russian control over Ukrainian territory seized since 2022. In contrast, the European-Ukrainian proposal insists that territorial questions should only be addressed after a full ceasefire and start from the basis of the line of control. also remain a key dividing line. The U.S. text offers vague language about a "robust security guarantee" for to be provided by unspecified European and "friendly" countries. It also requires Kyiv to abandon its bid to join NATO. The Ukrainian-European proposal calls for reliable, enforceable guarantees from allies — including the U.S. — and rejects limits on or its ability to host allied forces. The documents also diverge sharply on sanctions policy. The U.S. plan calls for lifting sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014, including those related to Crimea. The Ukrainian-European text proposes sanctions relief only after establishing a "sustainable peace" and includes mechanisms to reimpose them if Russia violates any agreement. Kyiv also calls for the return of all deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children, which the U.S. proposal does not mention. Read also: 'End policy of appeasement' — European foreign affairs chairs rebuke Trump's Russia stance While proposing concessions on core political issues, the U.S. plan does include conditions for Moscow. It demands that Russia return occupied in 2022 Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Ukrainian control, under U.S. oversight, to provide power to cities on both sides of the front line. The plan also calls for restoring Ukrainian control over the Kinburn Spit, providing secure passage across the Dnipro River, and reclaiming occupied areas of Kharkiv Oblast — around 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) currently held by Russian forces. On the economic front, the U.S. draft outlines a future agreement on cooperation and reconstruction, pledging financial support for Ukraine's recovery and infrastructure development. President has firmly rejected any peace terms involving territorial concessions. "This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine," he said on April 22. Ukraine has already accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal introduced by the U.S. in March, provided Russia reciprocates. Moscow has so far rejected the ceasefire and continues offensive operations across the front. Despite promising to end the war swiftly, U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to impose new sanctions or take other steps to pressure the Kremlin. Read also: Trump says Crimea 'will stay with Russia,' blames Ukraine's NATO aspirations for war We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Al Bawaba
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
UN approves Ukrainian European draft resolution on the third anniversary of the war
ALBAWABA- On the third anniversary of Russia's war on Ukraine, the UN General Assembly approved a Ukrainian-European draft resolution reaffirming support for Ukraine's territorial integrity. A total of 93 UN member states voted in favor of Ukraine's resolution at the General Assembly, while the US and Russia opposed it, and China abstained. Supported by over 50 countries, including all EU states and Ukraine, the resolution condemns Russia as an aggressor and demands the full withdrawal of its forces from Ukraine's internationally recognized borders. The Assembly also rejected a Russian-proposed amendment to a US-drafted resolution, underscoring international divisions over the conflict. Ukraine, backed by European nations, has introduced a resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from its territory. This draft emphasizes Ukraine's sovereignty and calls for a cessation of hostilities. In contrast, the United States has proposed a separate resolution urging a swift end to the conflict and advocating for a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, without explicitly condemning Russia's actions. The U.S. has pressured Ukraine to withdraw its resolution in favor of the American proposal, but Ukraine has refused. The U.S. has been actively urging member states to support its resolution, emphasizing the need for a unified call to end the war. Also Read Ahmed al-Sharaa to visit Jordan for high-level talks However, European allies and Ukraine argue that any resolution should explicitly address Russian aggression and uphold Ukraine's territorial integrity. While General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they carry significant symbolic weight, reflecting global sentiment.
Daily Tribune
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
US Urges Support for 'Simple' Resolution as Trump Calls for Putin-Zelensky Talks
The United States urged UN members to back its "simple, historic" resolution on the Ukraine war, which diplomatic sources say omits mention of Kyiv's territory occupied by Russia. Washington's proposal, seen by AFP, appears to rival a separate draft resolution produced by Kyiv and its European allies, calling for an end to the conflict without mentioning Kyiv's territorial integrity. Unlike the Ukrainian-European proposal, which blames Russia for the invasion and commits to Kyiv's "territorial integrity," the US's 65-word draft proposal does not criticize Moscow. Instead, it calls for a "swift end to the conflict" while stressing the United Nations' purpose is the maintenance of "international peace and security" without singling out Russia as the source of the conflict. On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged UN member states to support the US draft "to chart a path to peace." Moscow's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, welcomed the US draft as "a good move" but emphasized that it did not address the "roots" of the conflict. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had complained about his country being excluded from talks. Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump, in a shift from his earlier criticisms of Ukraine, suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky should meet to bring an end to the war.
Al-Ahram Weekly
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
US urges backing of 'simple' resolution as Trump calls for Putin-Zelensky talks - War in Ukraine
The United States urged UN members to back its "simple, historic" resolution on the Ukraine war, which diplomatic sources said omits mention of Kyiv's territory occupied by Russia. Washington's proposal, seen by AFP, appears to rival a separate draft resolution produced by Kyiv and its European allies -- countries that US President Donald Trump has sought to sideline from talks on the future of the three-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine. Contrary to the Ukrainian-European proposal which blames Russia for the invasion and commits to Kyiv's "territorial integrity," the US's 65-word draft proposal does not criticize Moscow. Instead it calls for a "swift end to the conflict" without mentioning Kyiv's territorial integrity. It also begins by "mourning the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict," before "reiterating" that the United Nations' purpose is the maintenance of "international peace and security" -- without singling out Moscow as the source of the conflict. Calling it a "simple, historic resolution," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged UN member states on Friday "to support (the US draft) in order to chart a path to peace." The US draft was welcomed by Moscow's ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia as "a good move" -- but stressed that it did not address the "roots" of the conflict. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had complained that his country had been left out of talks between US and Russian officials -- prompting an attack from Trump who called Zelensky a "dictator without elections." He also falsely blamed Ukraine for starting the war. But Trump on Friday appeared to shift away from his criticisms, and said that Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin will have to "get together" to bring an end to the conflict. "President Putin and President Zelensky are going to have to get together... We want to stop killing millions of people," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He added Kyiv would "hopefully in the next fairly short period of time" sign a deal handing Washington preferential access to Ukraine's mineral deposits. Trump: Ukraine has no 'cards' The minerals deal has become a major sticking point in the increasingly fraught relations between Washington and Kyiv. Trump wants Ukraine to give US companies access to its vast natural resources as compensation for the tens of billions of dollars of aid delivered under his predecessor Joe Biden. "They're very brave, in every way you can imagine. But we are spending our treasure on some country that's very, very far away," Trump said of Ukraine. In return, Ukraine is seeking security guarantees from the United States for signing away the precious rights. Zelensky -- who had rejected the agreement -- said Friday he hoped for a "fair result." Earlier Friday, Trump described Ukraine as at a disadvantage in the negotiations -- further alarming allies who think he will offer concessions to Putin. "I've had very good talks with Putin, and I've had not such good talks with Ukraine. They don't have any cards," Trump said at the White House. He also said during a Fox News interview on the same day that it was not "very important" for Zelensky to be involved in US-Russia talks. The US president -- who has repeatedly expressed admiration for Putin -- again declined to blame Moscow for the February 2022 invasion, saying that the Russian leader "attacked but they shouldn't have let him attack." Trump also said that Putin faced no pressure to make a deal. "He doesn't have to make a deal, because if he wanted, he'd get the whole country," Trump said. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer -- who are both due at the White House next week for potentially tricky discussions -- have been accused by Trump of doing nothing to end the war. Macron said Friday he will tell Trump that "you can't be weak with President Putin." Europe 'must do more' On the ground, both sides in the war are trying to improve their position on the battlefield amid Trump's push for a ceasefire. Russia's army on Friday said it had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine. With Europe shaken by the new US stance on the conflict, Ukraine got renewed support from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "We won't leave Ukraine alone and decide things over their heads," he said Friday at his last major campaign event before weekend elections. After speaking to Scholz and other regional leaders, Zelensky said in his televised evening address that "Europe must and can do much more to ensure that peace is actually achieved" in Ukraine. Short link:
Jordan Times
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Rubio urges UN members to back 'simple, historic' US resolution on Ukraine
A Ukrainian serviceman stands near a destroyed Russian tank in the northeastern city of Trostyanets', on March 29, 2022. WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday urged UN members to approve a new US-proposed resolution on the Ukraine war that according to diplomats omits any mention of Kyiv's territory occupied by Russia. "The United States has proposed a simple, historic resolution in the United Nations that we urge all member states to support in order to chart a path to peace," Rubio said in a statement, without commenting in detail on the contents of the proposed resolution. The United States proposed Friday a United Nations resolution on the Ukraine conflict that omitted any mention of Kyiv's territory occupied by Russia, diplomatic sources told proposal comes amid an intensifying feud between US President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky which has seen Trump claim it was "not important" for his Ukrainian counterpart to be involved in peace also appeared to rival a separate draft resolution produced by Kyiv and its European allies, countries that Trump has also sought to sideline from talks on the future of the three-year-old Ukrainian-European text stresses the need to redouble diplomatic efforts to end the war this year, noting several initiatives to that end, while also blaming Russia for the invasion and committing to Kyiv's "territorial integrity."The text also repeats the UN General Assembly's previous demands for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Those votes had wide support, with around 140 of the 193 member states voting in text, seen by AFP, calls for a "swift end to the conflict" without mentioning Kyiv's territorial integrity, and was welcomed by Moscow's ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia as "a good move" -- but stressed that it did not address the "roots" of the a break with past resolutions proposed and supported by Washington, the latest draft, produced ahead of a General Assembly meeting Monday to coincide with the third anniversary of the war, does not criticize the 65-word text begins by "mourning the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict."It then continued by "reiterating" that the United Nation's purpose is the maintenance of "international peace and security" -- without singling out Moscow as the source of the ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Riviere, the EU's only permanent member of the council, said he had no comment "for the moment.""A stripped-down text of this type that does not condemn Russian aggression or explicitly reference Ukraine's territorial integrity looks like a betrayal of Kyiv and a jab at the EU, but also a show of disdain for core principles of international law," said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group. "I think even a lot of states that favour an early end to the war will worry that the US is ignoring core elements of the UN Charter."
