BRUSSELS: European powers have submitted a revised version of Washington’s proposed Ukraine peace plan, challenging key U.S. conditions that Kyiv and several EU governments view as unacceptable. According to a document reviewed by WNN, the UK, France, Germany and several Eastern European states have raised concerns over U.S.-proposed limits on Ukraine’s military and the suggestion of predetermined territorial concessions to Russia.
Under the American draft, Ukraine’s army would be capped at 600,000 troops. Europe’s alternative raises the limit to 800,000 “in peacetime,” arguing that a country of Ukraine’s size and threat environment cannot rely on a smaller force. European officials warn that Washington’s proposal risks leaving Kyiv strategically exposed.
The revised plan also rejects any starting premise that Russian-held areas should be treated as “de facto” lost territory. Instead, Europe insists border talks must begin from the current front line, preventing the automatic recognition of Russian occupation. European governments likewise demand stronger, treaty-level security guarantees for Ukraine, closer in spirit to NATO’s Article 5.
Another key divergence concerns Russia’s frozen assets. Europe wants them kept fully locked until Moscow agrees to pay for war damages, rejecting a U.S. idea to invest those funds for profit in the interim.
The counter-proposal reflects rising frustration in Brussels over being sidelined in negotiations between Washington and Moscow, despite the war’s direct impact on European security and economies. It also aligns more closely with Kyiv’s position, as Ukraine refuses any peace formula requiring territorial surrender, military downsizing, or limits on future NATO membership.
Talks in Geneva this week will test whether Washington is willing to accommodate Europe’s tougher terms. The debate exposes a growing rift within the Western alliance between the U.S. push for a swift settlement and Europe’s insistence that any deal must guarantee Ukraine’s long-term security and deter future Russian aggression.
–Andrew Gray
