Europe’s leading powers have unveiled a revised peace framework for the war in Ukraine, putting forward a plan that diverges sharply from the controversial 28-point proposal backed by the United States. The European counter-proposal, drafted by Britain, Germany, and France, seeks what they call a “just and lasting peace,” while attempting to avoid concessions critics say would reward aggression.
The plan was revealed following an emergency summit in Geneva, where U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that Washington is already considering revisions. “We are now making some changes,” Rubio said after the meeting, adding that it was “probably best meeting and day we’ve had so far in this entire process, going back to when we first came to office in January,” according to The Telegraph.
For Catholics following the conflict closely, especially those concerned about the moral implications of territorial concessions, justice for victims of war, and the protection of national sovereignty, the new European draft raises profound questions.
European Plan Offers Concessions, but Rejects Some U.S.-Russian Demands
Europe’s proposal includes several significant commitments meant to address Russian concerns, while preserving more of Ukraine’s territorial integrity than the earlier American draft.
According to The Telegraph, the plan states that Russia is “to be progressively re-integrated into the global economy,” and even opens the possibility that Moscow could return to the G8—an idea long seen as politically unthinkable after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The counter-proposal also places a firm limit on Ukraine’s military forces in peacetime, capping personnel at 800,000. Europe had not included such a restriction in earlier drafts, but the cap aligns more closely with elements of President Donald Trump’s plan, which called for an even lower limit of 600,000 troops.
In another concession, European governments agreed that Ukraine would hold national elections “as soon as possible after the signing of the peace agreement,” according to the report. Russia has repeatedly demanded that elections be held in a way that could remove Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from power.
But the European plan pointedly rejects other demands. According to The Telegraph, the revised draft “removes Russia’s demand that Ukraine gives up the eastern Donbas region.” It also eliminates language from the U.S. proposal that would have granted Washington “50 per cent of future profits from frozen Russian assets invested in Ukraine.”
Territorial Negotiations and Security Guarantees
Instead of accepting large territorial losses—an approach in the U.S. draft that critics described as a “wish list” for the Kremlin—the European version states that any future “negotiations on territorial swaps will start from the line of contact,” the current front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
The plan further suggests that Ukraine receive a security guarantee from Washington similar to NATO’s Article 5 commitment—a potential long-term protection against renewed aggression.
European leaders also maintain that Russian sovereign assets should remain frozen “until Moscow pays compensation for the immense damage it has caused,” according to the source material.
Ukraine Responds With Gratitude, Despite Trump’s Complaint
While President Trump has publicly expressed frustration, writing on Truth Social that Ukraine has shown “zero gratitude for our efforts,” Zelensky pushed back gently. According to The Telegraph, the Ukrainian leader said he was grateful and that Ukraine was “counting on an outcome that will pave the way to a real and lasting peace.”
Catholics who have followed Church teaching on peace and justice may find in this exchange a reflection of broader tensions: the need for genuine diplomacy grounded in truth and responsibility, rather than pressure tactics or political posturing.
Questions Over Authorship of U.S. Plan Continue
A political controversy continues to swirl around the authorship of the original American proposal. Critics have argued that the document was written in Russian or heavily influenced by Moscow. One accuser, Meaghan Mobbs, claimed “the peace plan was originally written in Russian,” citing transliteration errors and Russian-style phrasing.
Rubio strongly denied the allegation, writing that “the peace proposal was authored by the US… based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.”
European Leaders Express Caution
European heads of government signaled mixed expectations about achieving a rapid agreement. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was “not yet convinced we’re going to get the solution President Trump wants in the next few days,” while Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Europe, Canada, and Japan were ready to work on the U.S. plan—provided its origins were clarified.
Tusk remarked that “before we start our work, it would be good to know for sure who is the author of the plan and where was it created,” according to the report.
Conflict Continues on the Ground
Even as diplomatic efforts intensified, the conflict showed no signs of abating. Ukrainian drone strikes ignited a fire at the Shatura power station near Moscow, cutting heating for thousands in freezing temperatures. The Telegraph reports that Russia later claimed to have downed “75 Ukrainian drones.”
A Catholic Perspective on Peace
The ongoing negotiations place Catholics in a position of reflection: peace requires dialogue, but justice demands that peace not be purchased at the cost of truth or the rights of the oppressed. Pope Francis and global Catholic leaders have repeatedly insisted that any peace must be rooted in international law, respect for sovereignty, and the protection of human life.
As Europe and the United States attempt to unify their approach, Catholics may look to the principles of Catholic social teaching—solidarity, subsidiarity, justice, and the common good—to evaluate the moral dimensions of any final agreement.
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