Russia on Friday expressed its readiness to have a substantive discussion on the details of a new U.S.-proposed 28-point plan on ending the Ukraine crisis, while Ukraine said it is developing an alternative in coordination with European countries.
Speaking at a meeting of the Russian Federation Security Council in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia has received the plan through existing channels of communication with the U.S. administration.
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Russia ready for discussion on US-proposed peace plan, Ukraine seeks alternatives
Russia ready for discussion on US-proposed peace plan, Ukraine seeks alternatives
Russia ready for discussion on US-proposed peace plan, Ukraine seeks alternatives
Russia ready for discussion on US-proposed peace plan, Ukraine seeks alternatives
It could form the basis of a final peace settlement, but the text has not been discussed with Russia in detail, Putin noted.
The Russian president said that Moscow is ready for "peace talks and peaceful resolution of problems," as well as for "a substantive discussion on all the details of the proposed plan."
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said on Friday that as Ukraine continues to lose control of its territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision-making space is shrinking.
He said that Ukraine must immediately make responsible decisions regarding a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and that delay would lead to missed opportunities. In his response, Zelensky said in an address to the nation on Friday that Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner, suggesting that Ukraine was being forced to choose between "either the difficult 28 points or an extremely difficult winter."
Zelensky said he will not "betray" Ukraine's national interests and he would seek alternatives to U.S. President Donald Trump's 28-point plan through discussions with Europe and the United States.
Zelensky also said that in his conversations with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, they discussed many details of the U.S.-proposed plan to end the war.
He said the Ukrainian side "agreed to work together with the U.S. and Europe at the level of national security advisors to make the path to peace truly doable," and the peace should be both dignified and genuinely effective.
According to Ukrainian media reports, Zelensky will discuss the plan with Trump next week.
However, it appears that he does not have much time left. On Friday, Trump set Nov. 27 as the deadline for Ukraine to accept the 28-point peace plan.
The Washington Post reported that the White House is pressuring Ukraine to sign the new draft plan by the 27th or risk losing U.S. support.
According to the report, although Trump has already reduced direct support for Ukraine, the United States has facilitated Ukraine's acquisition of weapons through European partners and continues to share battlefield intelligence with Ukraine.
It said the United States is now signaling that if Ukraine does not accept soon, everything could be off the table.
Russia ready for discussion on US-proposed peace plan, Ukraine seeks alternatives
Russia ready for discussion on US-proposed peace plan, Ukraine seeks alternatives
Russia ready for discussion on US-proposed peace plan, Ukraine seeks alternatives
Russia ready for discussion on US-proposed peace plan, Ukraine seeks alternatives
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the Middle East tensions are in the common interests of all parties.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.
During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on current international issues and regional conflicts.
Wang welcomed the visit of the Pakistani side to Beijing for discussion on easing tensions in the Middle East, just after its holding of a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad.
He said China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. This process is no easy task, and Pakistan's mediation efforts are in line with the common interests of all parties, Wang added.
He noted China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.
On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people's hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Dar thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.
Noting that solutions can only be found through negotiation, Dar said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to push all parties to start peace talks as soon as possible and restore regional peace.
The two sides also put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region:
I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
