Several Republicans condemn the White House over its handling of proposed plan they say favours Russia. What we know on day 1,373

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Steve Witkoff’s handling of a proposed Ukraine peace plan has been harshly criticised by several congressional Republicans . “This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace,” Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. Those fears escalated after Steve Witkoff reportedly coached Moscow on how to handle Trump, Joseph Gedeon reports. “For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians,” Republican representative Don Bacon wrote on X. “He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired.” Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, wrote that the leak represented “one of the many reasons why these ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop”. Senator Mitch McConnell suggested Trump might need to find new advisers. Vice-president JD Vance accused McConnell of making a “ridiculous attack”. Donald Trump Jr. said on social media McConnell was “just bitter and lashing out against my father”.

Americans involved in the Ukrainian war effort are dismayed by Trump’s continuing pressures on Kyiv. Ben Makuch reports some think the US-led peace plan is tantamount to backstabbing. “Complete bullshit and a betrayal by Trump,” said one American special forces veteran who has helped train and advise the Ukrainian military. “But are you even surprised?” A Nato veteran who trains Ukrainian soldiers said money is motivating the US government and called the plan “pathetic”.

Russia said on Wednesday that ongoing talks to end the war in Ukraine were “serious”. In comments to Russian state TV, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the draft required “truly serious analysis”. “Some aspects can be viewed positively, but many require special discussions among experts,” he said. The original plan ignited a storm of criticism, with claims it was just a Russian “wish list”.

The European Commission president has warned against “the unilateral carving up of a sovereign European nation” as Europe scrambles to assert influence over the US’s attempt to end the war, Jennifer Rankin reports. Speaking on Wednesday, Ursula von der Leyen said Russia showed “no signs of true willingness to end the conflict”. “If today we legitimise and formalise the undermining of borders, we open the doors for more wars tomorrow, and we cannot let this happen,” she said. Von der Leyen welcomed Trump’s efforts to find peace but made clear that Europe had many concerns about the details outlined in the original 28-point plan.

According to data analysed by AFP from the American Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have conquered an average of 467 sq km (180 sq miles) each month in 2025 – a step up from 2024. Moscow’s troops are now fighting for four key settlements in the Donetsk region: Lyman, Siversk, Kostiantynivka, and Pokrovsk. Their loss would weaken Kyiv’s defences and supply lines, putting the last major settlements controlled by Ukraine in the region, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, at risk.

The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday it reached a staff-level agreement on a new four-year, $8.2bn program for Ukraine as the country faces mounting wartime fiscal pressures . The IMF said the agreement, which replaces the existing $15.6bn Extended Fund Facility approved in March 2023. “Russia’s war continues to take a heavy toll on Ukraine’s people and its economy,” it said in a statement.