US Govt Splits Over Ukraine Plan as Senators Claim Rubio Called It ‘Russian Wish List’
US officials clash over leaked plan forcing Kyiv's territorial surrender.
A bitter internal rift has erupted within the United States government over a controversial 28-point Ukraine peace proposal, with Washington vehemently denying accusations from a bipartisan group of senators that Secretary of State Marco Rubio privately described the document as a mere "Russian wish list" rather than official American policy, injecting unprecedented uncertainty into high-stakes negotiations aimed at halting the grinding war.
The plan, aggressively championed by President Donald Trump as a pathway to swift resolution, demands that Kyiv cede vast swathes of territory long coveted by Moscow, drastically reduce its military capabilities, and irrevocably renounce NATO membership, concessions that have drawn fierce condemnation from European allies and Ukrainian leaders alike for their one-sided favoritism toward Russia.
At a high-profile press conference during the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada, on Saturday, Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Angus King (I-ME), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) revealed details of a candid call with Rubio en route to Geneva, where the Secretary allegedly clarified that the leaked blueprint—handed to Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff by Russian representatives—does not reflect Washington's endorsed position but serves merely as a starting point for dialogue.
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Rubio swiftly countered the senators' narrative in a forceful statement, insisting that the proposal was "authored by the US" and incorporates balanced inputs from both Ukrainian and Russian stakeholders, framing it as a robust negotiation framework rather than a capitulation. Trump echoed this defense, telling reporters it represents neither a final offer nor an ultimatum, while expressing determination to end the conflict "one way or the other," even as he faces mounting pressure from Capitol Hill to avoid rewarding Vladimir Putin's aggression.
The escalating discord comes amid Sunday's scheduled talks in Switzerland between U.S. negotiators and Ukrainian counterparts, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to present counter-alternatives, underscoring Kyiv's unyielding commitment to territorial integrity since the 2022 invasion. Veteran Republican Senator Mitch McConnell amplified the chorus of bipartisan outrage on social media, warning that concessions would play into Putin's hands and undermine America's global credibility, potentially fracturing transatlantic unity at a pivotal moment in the protracted conflict.
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