The co-chairs of the Ukrainian Kokus (a bipartisan group supporting Ukraine) in the US Congress have released a statement criticising the peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“The proposed peace plan for Ukraine appears to prioritise the interests of the aggressor – dictator Vladimir Putin – over the sovereignty and security of democratic Ukraine. This is unacceptable. This proposal does not offer a true path to lasting peace, but instead demands Ukraine’s capitulation to Russian aggression. It rewards Russia’s unprovoked invasion, illegally seizing Ukrainian territory such as Crimea, and pressures Ukraine to limit its defence capabilities and abandon its aspirations for NATO membership,” the statement released on 22 November reads.
The congressmen note that Russia’s ambitions are not limited to Ukraine’s borders and Putin continues to seek broader influence in Europe, so adopting the proposed plan “not only subjects Ukraine’s independence to Russian tyranny, but will make all of Europe even more vulnerable to future Russian aggression.”
“The plan was reportedly developed primarily by U.S. and Russian officials, with limited or no consultation with Kiev or key European partners. Allies have rightly dismissed the proposal as a Framework scheme to reward aggression rather than to protect Ukrainian freedom and secure peace through force. The administration’s support for this plan is deeply troubling,” the congressmen stressed.
In return, the authors of the statement called for:
- reject any scheme that requires Ukraine to surrender more territory or cede legal authority over its sovereign land;
- maintain and tighten sanctions against Russia until it fully withdraws troops and pays reparations;
- ensure that Ukraine is a full, equal partner in any negotiations and not a passive recipient of terms dictated by Moscow;
- provide credible security guarantees that will deter further aggression;
- coordinate closely with NATO and European allies to uphold international norms and prevent a return to conflict in Europe.
“Adopting this proposal as reported would undermine European and NATO security and weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and not confront Russian aggression. The international community must remain steadfast in its support for Ukraine, adhering to the principles of territorial integrity and self-determination, and rejecting any plan that rewards the aggressor. Lasting peace comes not from conceding to aggression, but from the strength and unity of free nations that refuse to bow down to it,” the statement reads.
The authors of the statement note that the path to lasting peace must be based on justice and sovereignty of Ukraine. “History is unambiguous: appeasement of the aggressor does not end the conflict, but contributes to its expansion. This warning is especially loud on Holodomor Memorial Day, when the world honours the millions of Ukrainians killed during the artificial genocide orchestrated by Moscow in 1932-1933. Allowing Russia to regain power over Ukraine today would mean ignoring this history and opening the door to the same oppression that Ukrainians have fought against for generations,” the statement said.
The statement was signed by Marcy Kaptur, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Mike Quigley, who co-chair the Ukrainian Kokus (Ukraine Support Group) in Congress, as well as Don Bacon, chairman of the House Armed Services, Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Innovation Subcommittee.
Also on 22 November, the World Congress of Ukrainians criticised the proposed plan.
“This proposal reflects the Kremlin’s demands and puts pressure on Ukraine to give up its sovereignty. What Russia has failed to achieve on the battlefield, it is now trying to extract through political coercion, using the United States to realise Putin’s ambitions… President Trump should not allow himself to be used to help Putin turn Ukraine back into an enslaved nation and restore the Soviet empire,” the WCCU said.
Ukrainian officials are due to meet with their U.S. counterparts in Geneva on November 23 to discuss a peace plan that Kiev’s allies say is tilted in Russia’s favour. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in particular, will join the consultations. It is also known that representatives of European states are to join the consultations in Geneva.
From the Ukrainian side will be present the head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak and the secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Rustem Umerov.
On 22 November, US President Donald Trump said that the peace plan proposed by his administration regarding Ukraine was being worked out and “is not a final option”.
Before that, Trump said that next Thursday, 27 November, was the deadline for Kiev to accept the US-backed peace proposal to end the war Russia is waging against Ukraine