🔗 Share this article Trump Says Deal Proposal Is Not Ultimate Proposal as Representatives Gather for Geneva Talks Former President Trump indicated on Saturday that his Russian-prepared proposal for peace constituted not his ultimate proposal, after intense criticism from Ukraine's leaders and commentators who compared it to a Munich pact of 1938 between Neville Chamberlain and Hitler. In short comments from the White House, the US president told reporters: "We’d like to get to peace. It should’ve happened a long time ago … we are attempting to conclude it, one way or the other it must be resolved." Forthcoming Geneva Negotiations Involve Various Countries US and Ukrainian officials are scheduled to meet in Geneva this Sunday for discussions on this proposal. Defense representatives from France, Britain and Germany will also participate in these negotiations there. Prior to the talks, American lawmakers informed the press that Secretary of State Rubio contacted them during his travel to Switzerland for clarification on the details of this disclosed proposal. According to him, the proposal did not originate from the administration but rather reflected Russian desires, according to independent Maine senator Angus King, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ukraine's President Faces Critical Deadline Nevertheless, Trump has given Volodymyr Zelenskyy a deadline of Thursday for signing this multi-point agreement. The document requires Ukraine to give up land under its control to Moscow, reduce its military forces, and surrender advanced weaponry. Additionally, it rules out international peacekeepers and penalties for atrocities committed by Russia. During a solemn speech last Friday, the Ukrainian leader warned that his country faces an impossible choice in the near future between keeping its national dignity and losing key ally like the United States. He admitted that Ukraine is experiencing one of the most difficult moments in its history. Ukraine's Dialogue Delegation Formed for Upcoming Meetings In comments this weekend, the president said that real or "dignified" peace depends on "guaranteed security and justice". He revealed a delegation, established through a decree, that would soon meet American representatives in Geneva, led by top aide Andriy Yermak. Another member of the Ukrainian delegation, ex-defense head and security council official Rustem Umerov, stated there would be consultations with Washington regarding potential terms for a peace deal. Hinting at limits, he noted: "Ukraine approaches this process with a clear understanding of its interests. This represents a continuation of recent discussions focused on harmonizing our plans for future actions." Global Response and Concerns The Ukrainian president has sought to engage constructively with the US administration seemingly determined to resolve the war based on Russian conditions. He has made clear that he will not surrender Ukraine’s sovereignty or disregard a constitution that protects Ukraine's territorial integrity. During a summit in South Africa, leaders from the G20 and EU representatives issued a collective declaration pushing back on the proposed deal, saying it needs "additional work". It said that EU and Nato members must be involved regarding certain clauses, which rule out Ukraine's NATO accession and put conditions on its European Union membership. Public Views in Ukraine's Capital Ukrainian reaction to the text, drawn up by Putin’s envoy and Trump’s representative, has been overwhelmingly hostile. Analysts said it outlined a plan for further Russian aggression: not only of Ukraine but of other parts of Europe as well. Mustafa Nayyem, a public figure who led the 2014 Maidan protests, said it invited parallels with the Munich Agreement. The proposal belonged to a similar category, where the affected party is asked to outline its own surrender for broader convenience. In a Facebook post, Nayyem expressed he was outraged by the complete pardon for Russian atrocities. It was an insult people who had hidden in basements in affected cities – where Russian troops executed hundreds of civilians – and families of deported children to Russian territory. "A rather cynical agreement," he stated. Speaking in a Kyiv subway station, Sariskyi, 21, said that Moscow has attempted to control Ukraine politically and territorially "for years". The agreement offered very little in the Trump agreement and maintained its forces on Ukrainian soil. In my view, this deal aims to undermine Ukraine and impose unfair terms, he remarked. Should Ukraine accept the terms Kyiv would be forced to sacrifice its liberties, he added. If it didn’t, the US would most likely break off cooperation and intelligence sharing, a vital resource of military intelligence for frontline Ukrainian troops. "There is no good way out of this for now," he remarked. Diverse Viewpoints from the Public A different commuter, 19-year-old Barchan, asserted that the country would "keep strong" lacking US backing. We will continue our struggle as needed. Our territory will remain our territory, including Crimea and the east. It belongs to Ukraine." She expressed that the president is intelligent and forecasted he would not give up Ukrainian land. Speaking in the rain, near a historical monument, Ivanovna said she was grateful to the former US leader for his peace-making efforts. She said that the nation ought to consider ceding Crimea and the eastern Donbas region for a limited time if it meant keeping America as a partner. "President Zelenskyy should hold a referendum and ask the people," she said. European Leaders Condemn the Plan Previous European leaders have roundly condemned the plan. Ex-PM of Finland Marin described it as a disaster, not only for Ukraine and Ukrainians but for "all of the democratic world". She warned if the west showed weakness and ignorance – similar to the 2014 Crimea annexation – further hostilities would follow. Belgium's ex-PM, Verhofstadt, referenced Churchill’s definition of an appeaser as someone who accommodates an aggressor. He added: "Trump now takes Putin’s side. Europe must choose again: appeasement or our values, imperialism or freedom. Another moment of truth for our [European] union."