Ukraine's allies rally round as Trump offers Kyiv lifeline

European leaders are meeting in South Africa to discuss alternatives to a US plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine

- JAMES C. REYNOLDS

Allies of Ukraine rallied around its defiant wartime leader yesterday as they pushed to revise a suspect peace proposal touted by the United States.

European leaders met in South Africa to review their options after US president Donald Trump set Kyiv a deadline of next Thursday to agree to terms seen as appeasing some of Russia's most hardline demands.

Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Mr Trump late yesterday after expressing how leaders were concerned that the current deal would not give Ukraine the means to defend itself, requiring a cap on the military and no Nato membership or peacekeepers.

The prime minister said earlier in the day that allies had agreed that the 28-point plan contains "elements" that are essential to a lasting peace, but added that the proposal still needs "additional work".

Mr Trump offered allies some hope of salvaging a viable peace deal, telling reporters yesterday that the peace plan was not his final offer.

A Ukrainian delegation, bolstered by representatives from France, Germany and the UK, is now preparing for direct talks with Washington in Geneva today to go through the plan in detail.

UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell is understood to have left the G20 summit early to head to Switzerland.