During a gathering in South Africa, Prime Minister Mark Carney and several other world leaders released a joint statement on Saturday expressing the need for further work on U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, focused on Ukraine following a warning from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the challenging situation his country is currently facing.
Zelenskyy is under pressure from Trump to accept or reject the peace plan, which is perceived to be in favor of Russia, by November 27.
The leaders emphasized in their statement the importance of not altering borders through force and voiced concerns about the proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s military, which could leave the country susceptible to future attacks.
Trump’s 28-point proposal requires Kyiv to surrender territory, agree to military size limitations, and abandon aspirations to join NATO, fulfilling long-standing Russian demands. The plan also includes provisions that Russia may find unfavorable, such as withdrawing its military from certain areas in Ukraine.
In a video message to the nation, Zelenskyy stated that Trump’s recent actions are exerting immense pressure on Ukraine.
“Ukraine is now confronted with a very tough decision: sacrificing dignity, risking the loss of a crucial partner, accepting 28 challenging points, or enduring an extremely harsh winter,” Zelenskyy remarked.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Canada, the European Council, the European Commission, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Finland, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and Ireland.
Trump Indicates Peace Plan is Subject to Change
Trump opted out of the G20 summit this year, citing disagreements with South Africa, and did not send any American delegation for discussions.
Carney acknowledged the positive aspects of Trump’s plan online and pledged to collaborate closely with Ukraine and the U.S. in the upcoming days alongside international partners.
“The initial version of the 28-point plan on Ukraine contains crucial elements necessary for establishing a fair and enduring peace,” Carney shared on the social media platform X.
The U.S. president emphasized that his current peace proposal for Ukraine is not final. He stated, “The conflict must end one way or another,” during interactions with reporters on Saturday.
Global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw, present at the G20, described Trump’s current peace plan for Ukraine as detrimental to the country.
“If any Ukrainian leader were to agree to even a portion of this so-called plan, it would mark the end of Ukraine as we know it. It would be game over for an independent Ukraine,” remarked Bociurkiw, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council.
Additionally, Carney is engaging in one-on-one discussions with the leaders of France, Norway, the European Union, Germany, and the U.K. on Saturday, according to a senior Canadian official.
All these nations are part of the Coalition of the Willing, comprising over 30 countries committed to bolstering