European forces and the Ukraine they responded to his plan Vladimir Putin for ceasefire with a counter -proposal. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Kiev and Europeans argue that this should be the framework for the upcoming Trump -Putin talks to obtain meaningful content,
As revealed on Saturday night (09.08.2025) or Wall Street JournalEurope and Kyiv reject Vladimir Putin’s proposal to exchange parts of the Donetsk District that Ukraine controls in exchange for the ceasefire of fire. The proposal was presented at a meeting with senior US officials in Britain.
What does the European and Kiev proposal include
Governments of Britain, Germany and France, in collaboration with Ukraine, have been mobilized to respond to the peaceful proposal resulting from his meeting Vladimir Putin with the US special envoy, Steve Whitkovin the Kremlin last week.
After these conversations, the Donald Trump He let the deadline he had set for the imposition of strict secondary sanctions on Russia and agreed to a summit with his Russian counterpart on Alaska August 15th.
The aim of the European side is to draw up a common “red line” along with Ukraine, which, according to European officials, should apply to any possible negotiation with Russia.
“The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians, who have been fighting for their freedom and safety for more than three years,” the French president told social media on Saturday. Emmanuel Macron. “Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as it is their own security.”
The European proposal sets as a prerequisite for the ceasefire before any other step. In addition, it states that the land exchange can only be made on a mutual basis: if Ukraine is withdrawn from certain regions, Russia should be withdrawn from others, as WSJ notes.
A crucial point of the European plan, which was presented to the US Vice President, Jay Di Vancethe US Secretary of State, Mark RubioTrump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kloge and Russia, Steve Whitkovis that any territorial concession from Kiev should be accompanied by strong security guarantees, including the possible integration of Ukraine into NATO.
What does Putin want
The European plan was compiled and presented on the American side by the leaders of European leaders. THE Jay Di Vance They were present at the meeting, while most other US officials participated via teleconference.
According to officials informed of the proposal transferred by Witkov from Moscow, Putin He said he would agree on a ceasefire in exchange for Ukraine’s surrender of about 33% of Donetsk’s eastern region, which still controls Kiev. The front line would be consolidated in the rest of the points, including the areas of Zaporizia and Hersona, which Russia also claims.
Several European officials, who know the details of the Kremlin’s meeting, noted that Putin did not repeat his original, tougher position: That Ukraine must be demobilized, its government to be replaced and the entire Hersona and Zaporiza, areas whose capitals are controlled by Ukraine, to be granted to Russia. Putin annexed these three areas and a fourth, Luhansk, which is almost entirely held by Moscow, following “referendums” in 2022.
Some European officials reported on Saturday that if Ukraine handed over its entire region DonetskRussia should be withdrawn from the occupied parts of Zaporizia and the peninsula to the south.
Zelenski’s answer
The plan caused a strong reaction to the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenskiwhich has not been invited to the Alaska Summit as well as to European leaders.
Zelenski described, after his Saturday conversation with the British Prime Minister, Star starthe proposal as “a plan to limit everything to the debate of the weak” and said that Ukraine is not going to grant its land.
European official noted that Any Trump -Putin Agreement in Alaska would not have much value without the participation of European leaders.
In their meeting with the US Vice President, Jay Di VanceEuropean officials reiterated that the future of Ukraine cannot be discussed without the involvement of Ukraine itself. Regardless of developments in Washington, Europe will continue to provide Kiev weapons and funding, according to a senior European official.
source: Wall Street Journal