Caution! The 28-Point Plan: A Balanced Peace Offer?

Caution! The 28-Point Plan: A Balanced Peace Offer?

Ukraine faces enormous challenges in the current conflict. The front line is constantly changing and the Ukrainian armed forces are suffering heavy losses. Russian troops are advancing on various fronts, making the situation for Ukraine increasingly complicated. Amid this tense situation, Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, expressed that the end of the war may be near, causing mixed feelings among many concerned. At a key meeting in Geneva, security advisers from Ukraine, Britain, France, Italy, Germany and a delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio gathered to discuss the White House's controversial 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine, as Krone reports.

However, the 28-point plan that is being discussed is riddled with controversy. European countries and Ukraine itself express dissatisfaction with many points contained in the plan. Trump himself criticizes the Ukrainian leadership and complains that President Zelensky does not show gratitude for the support from the USA. Kellogg, on the other hand, describes the plan as good and sees the possibility of a way to end the conflict. Rubio, on the other hand, reports progress in the talks and emphasizes the agreement on a basic document that addresses the need to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and a just peace.

Origin and content of the plan

It remains unclear where the 28-point plan originally came from. Experts such as Ivo Daalder, a former NATO ambassador, point to the increasing importance of the talks between Ukraine and the USA. Some wording of the plan appears to be direct translations from Russian, leading to speculation that it may have come directly from the Kremlin circle. Senators reported a phone call with Rubio in which he said the plan was not of American origin but was written by someone representing Russia. This is supported by Senator Angus King, who describes it as a kind of wish list from the Russians, as Tagesschau notes.

Despite the ongoing skepticism, the State Department and Rubio have made it clear that the US developed the plan in collaboration with input from Russia and Ukraine. Former US ambassadors to Kiev, such as William Taylor, are critical of the plan and suspect it was leaked to the media to create confusion about its origins. These uncertainties could lead to chaos or power struggles within the U.S. government, as senior officials in the State Department only learned of the details of the plan through the media. Kellogg was also not previously informed, which could further increase internal tensions.

Criticism and geopolitical implications

Criticism of the 28-point plan concerns not only the possible violation of Ukraine's red lines, but also the lack of involvement of all European partners. Trump stresses that understanding the Kremlin's red lines is crucial to stopping the killing. The situation remains tense and it is unclear how things will develop as Russian troops continue to put pressure on Ukrainian defense lines.

As work on the proposal continues in the coming days, it becomes clear that both Ukraine and the European partners are in a critical phase of the negotiations. Pressure from both sides could lead to both an agreement and further differences that further fuel the conflict.