EU Proposes Amendments to America's Ukraine Peace Plan

European powers have submitted their own version of the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, pushing for changes that would give Ukraine more military flexibility and a stronger negotiating position. The modified proposal comes as diplomats from the U.S., Ukraine, and Europe meet in Geneva to hash out details of a potential settlement.

The European document allows Ukraine to maintain up to 800,000 troops during peacetime, compared to the 600,000 cap in the American plan. This difference matters because it gives Ukraine more defensive capability while still setting limits that might be acceptable to Russia.

But here's where it gets more interesting. The European version changes how territory negotiations would work. Instead of requiring Ukraine to recognize certain Russian-occupied areas "as a matter of fact" upfront, the Europeans want talks to start from current battle lines. This gives Ukraine more room to negotiate and potentially reclaim some territory through diplomacy rather than accepting losses from the start.

Britain, France, and Germany are behind this counter-proposal, according to sources familiar with the document. They're using the American plan as a foundation but making key adjustments that favor Ukrainian interests.

The European plan also includes a significant security guarantee. Ukraine would get U.S. protection similar to NATO's Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. This addresses Ukraine's long-term security concerns, even if full NATO membership remains off the table.

Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov seems cautiously optimistic about the direction talks are heading. He said the latest draft includes most of Ukraine's "basic priorities" after participating in Geneva negotiations. President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed this, saying American proposals could incorporate Ukrainian viewpoints to serve the country's national interests.

The fact that Europeans are proposing changes shows there's still significant negotiation happening behind the scenes. It also suggests that allies want Ukraine to have the strongest possible position in any final deal, rather than simply accepting whatever terms might end the fighting quickly.