European allies draw up Ukraine peace plan

European countries proposed a radical alternative Ukraine peace plan yesterday that rejected some of the pro-Russia points made in the original US-backed document and called for Kyiv's sovereignty to be respected.

- Luke Harding

The counterproposal emerged as US, Ukrainian and international negotiators met in Switzerland. The 28-point US document leaked last week would require Ukraine to hand over territory to Russia, limit the size of its army and agree not to pursue the Kremlin for alleged war crimes.

As discussions began in Geneva, Donald Trump claimed Ukraine had shown “zero gratitude” for US efforts to end the conflict. In a conciliatory social media post, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was personally grateful to the US president for the military assistance Washington had given, which had saved Ukrainian lives.

Trump's hostile rhetoric came after a confusing weekend in which the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, admitted the White House plan had been conceived in Moscow only to later insist the US was its "author".

Having been blindsided last week by the US diplomatic initiative, Ukraine's European allies published their own Kyiv-friendly version yesterday. It says negotiations over territory should take place after a ceasefire is agreed and should start from the existing frontline.

It adds both parties should agree how the truce is to be monitored "under US supervision". Unlike the White House text, the European alternative does not call for Kyiv to withdraw from cities it controls in the eastern Donbas region. Nor does it rule out Ukraine joining Nato but it points out there is no consensus over its membership.