US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told European allies that the United States wants to conclude a peace agreement before agreeing to any security guarantees for Ukraine.

Source : Politico, Brussels-based politics and policy news organisation, citing its sources

Details : Politico, citing a European diplomat and a person familiar with the talks, wrote that this condition had been central to Washington's proposals to Kyiv last week.

During a phone call with European officials on Tuesday 25 November Rubio said that US President Donald Trump would later negotiate long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, which would supposedly ensure Kyiv's safety.

Politico added that Ukraine's leaders consider Western security guarantees to be the foundation of any possible agreement with Russia, although NATO members are trying to work out how to support the war-hit country in terms of military assistance and intelligence.

Trump said he will not invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House until an agreement is signed.

According to another European diplomat, Rubio mentioned security guarantees for Ukraine during last weekend's talks in Geneva, but did not go into detail and did not repeat the proposal during a phone call with the British and French.

Politico noted that the White House had stressed that any final peace plan will include security guarantees.

Quote from White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly : "The Trump administration has repeatedly affirmed, publicly and privately, that any deal must provide full security guarantees and deterrence for Ukraine."

Details : Kelly added that Trump's national security team continues to work with both sides to bring the war to an end and to ensure a lasting and sustainable peace

Politico added that the State Department did not respond to their request for comment.

The initial US peace proposals for ending the war, voiced last week, encouraged Ukraine to reduce its armed forces to 600,000 service personnel while placing no limits on the size of Russia's.

Rubio and other US officials later defended the 28-point plan as a starting point rather than a full proposal.

Quote from Politico : "But the Trump administration has increasingly tilted away from full-fledged support of Ukraine to a more neutral posture in the talks. Rubio told his European counterparts on Thursday that the US was not seen as a fair mediator in the talks because it supplies both US military aid to Ukraine and institutes sanctions against Russia."

Details : Meanwhile, Politico wrote that some European countries fear that Trump's administration may tip the balance in Russia's favour.

One European diplomat commented on the "peace plan":"Nothing about human rights, humanitarian law, international law nor principles. This is creating a new European 'security architecture' full of holes."

Background : Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the Russian Federation has no intention of making concessions in its war against Ukraine, even as it has expressed support for the peace efforts of Trump.

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, expressed concern that there were no concessions or commitments from Russia in the first draft of the "peace plan" for Ukraine published by the media.

Background:

• As European Pravda reported, on 25 November, Trump said he had instructed special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to finalise the terms of the "peace deal" between Russia and Ukraine. Witkoff will travel to Moscow, and if the process reaches its final stage of preparation, Trump will meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy.
• According to Trump, the biggest concession from Russia would be its agreement to stop hostilities and refrain from seizing new territory.
• The United States and Ukraine have differing views on three points of the "peace plan", including the idea that Ukraine should withdraw without a fight from the part of Donetsk Oblast not under Russian control.

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