European leaders are engaged in a frantic diplomatic effort at the G20 summit in South Africa, working to assemble a counter-proposal to a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine jointly advanced by the United States and Russia. The fast-moving developments surrounding former President Trump's peace initiative are dominating the gathering, as allies aim to reinsert Ukraine into negotiations from which it has been sidelined.
A Diplomatic Tightrope for Kyiv
Ukraine finds itself in an acutely difficult position. Analysts note that Kyiv cannot outright reject the Washington-brokered proposal, as it remains heavily reliant on American military support to continue its war effort. However, accepting the current terms is also deemed unacceptable, as the deal is viewed as being acutely favourable to Russia.
The proposed terms, according to sources, would require Ukraine to cede territory not currently occupied by Moscow and significantly reduce the size of its army. In response, European nations are now urgently developing alternative proposals to present to President Trump ahead of his reported deadline of Thursday to agree on a deal.
UK and Allies Push for a 'Just Peace'
The UK government has firmly reiterated its stance that any viable agreement must deliver a "just and lasting peace" for Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is at the forefront of these diplomatic manoeuvres, having held a series of calls with key allies.
On Friday, he spoke with President Macron of France, Chancellor Merz of Germany, and President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The Prime Minister is scheduled for further conversations with partners today as they coordinate a strategy to improve the deal for Ukraine and manage the diplomatic approach to President Trump.
One diplomatic source revealed that allies are being "very careful not to criticise Trump or his approach" for fear of worsening an already delicate situation. Instead, Prime Minister Starmer is directing his critiques squarely at Russia.
Starmer's Condemnation and Call to Action
"There is only one country around the G20 table that is not calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine and one country that is deploying a barrage of drones and missiles to destroy livelihoods and murder innocent civilians," Starmer stated on Friday evening. He accused Russia of pretending to be serious about peace while its actions never match its words.
Regarding the Trump plan, the Prime Minister said allies are meeting on Saturday "to discuss the current proposal on the table, and in support of Trump's push for peace, look at how we can strengthen this plan for the next phase of negotiations." In diplomatic terms, "strengthening the plan" is understood to mean rebalancing it towards Ukraine's position and making it tougher on Russia.
Starmer emphasised that Ukraine has been ready to negotiate for months, while Russia has stalled. "We must strain every sinew to secure it," he declared, also highlighting the need to cut off Putin's finance flows by ending reliance on Russian gas.
Europe Seeks a Seat at the Table
A significant point of tension is that European allies had not even seen the details of the US-Russia deal earlier in the week, a sign that Washington may be temporarily cutting other partners out of the negotiation process. Prime Minister Starmer and other European leaders are now focused on ensuring that both Ukraine and Europe have a voice in the final outcome.
There is ongoing discussion about whether European leaders, such as France's President Macron and Italy's Prime Minister Meloni, might travel to Washington early next week to persuade President Trump of the European and Ukrainian perspective. However, Sky News understands that there are currently no discussions about PM Starmer travelling to Washington next week ahead of the UK budget.
The diplomatic scramble underscores the high stakes involved, as world leaders work against a ticking clock to shape a peace deal that will determine Ukraine's future.
