Ukraine 'coalition of the willing' set to meet after confusion, dissension over peace plan
CBC
The United States and Ukraine sought on Monday to narrow the gaps in a peace plan to end the war with Russia after agreeing to modify a U.S. proposal that Kyiv and its European allies saw as a Kremlin wish list.
The White House and Kyiv said in a joint statement they had drafted a "refined peace framework" after a first day of talks in Geneva on Sunday, though they did not provide specifics.
Ukraine's delegation to the talks with U.S. officials in Switzerland was returning home on Monday to report back, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The United States blindsided Kyiv and European countries with a 28-point peace plan last week, giving Ukraine until Thursday to agree to a framework to end Europe's deadliest war since the Second World War.
After the talks on Sunday, no public statement was released on how the revised plan would handle contentious issues such as how to guarantee Ukraine's security against future Russian threats and how to fund the rebuilding of Ukraine.
"We all continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen but not weaken us," Zelenskyy said via video link from a separate summit of Ukraine's allies in Sweden.
Zelenskyy said Russia must pay for the war in Ukraine and that a decision on using frozen Russian assets was crucial.
"Right now, we are at a critical moment, and we are working with the United States, European partners and many others to define steps that can end Russia's war against us, against Ukraine, and bring real security."
The leaders of the "coalition of the willing" — allied countries supporting Ukraine — will hold a video conference call on Tuesday to discuss peace talks, said the European Commission's spokesperson. In addition to Ukraine's European allies, Canada has been included in previous meetings of the coalition this year.
"A lot of work remains to be done regarding Ukraine peace proposals," she told reporters during the daily briefing held in Brussels.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also confirmed the virtual meeting set for Tuesday.
"Everybody is absolutely focused on what we need to get out of this, and that is a just and lasting peace," Starmer told reporters in London.
Starmer said there had been "progress, yes, [but] more work to do."
U.S. President Donald Trump has kept up the pressure on Ukraine to reach a deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the American delegation during Sunday's talks, said the deadline to reach a deal by Thursday might not be set in stone.
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