'Leaked Russian Wish List': Marco Rubio Says Sweeping Ukraine Peace Plan Not America's

Last Updated:November 23, 2025, 18:19 IST

Trump's 28-point plan to end the Ukraine war has been the subject of much criticism from Europe and Kyiv as it is widely seen as favourable to Russia.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Reuters Image)

The global conundrum surrounding a sweeping US-backed peace plan for Ukraine that requires it to cede its territory and cut its military strength by half took a bizarre turn, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US Senators that the plan was not America’s, but merely a “leaked" Russian “wish list", as per reports.

Rubio told a bipartisan delegation at the Halifax Security Forum in Canada on Saturday that President Donald Trump’s 28-point blueprint to end the war in Ukraine – which is widely being seen as favourable to Russia – is actually a Russian proposal, not a US initiative, said Republican Senator Mike Rounds.

“He made it very clear to us that we are the recipients of a proposal that was delivered to one of our representatives," Politico quoted Rounds as saying. “t is not our recommendation. It is not our peace plan. It is a proposal that was received, and as an intermediary, we have made arrangements to share it — and we did not release it. It was leaked."

Independent Maine Sen. Angus King said that, according to Rubio, the plan was a “wish list of the Russians", according to the New York Post.

Will US Cut Off Aid For Ukraine?

The peace plan had dominated headlines recently, prompting a massive diplomatic scramble as Trump set a deadline of November 27 for Ukraine to accept the peace plan to end the nearly four-year war. The plan has prompted criticism in Ukraine and European capitals about whether the Trump administration was backing a Russia-friendly plan.

However, Rubio told lawmakers that he was unaware of any plans by President Donald Trump to cut off intelligence sharing or military assistance if Ukraine rejected the terms. “He told me … he was not aware of that threat being made. The intent was to take what had now been publicly discussed in news reports and to allow the Ukrainians the opportunity to respond back to it," said Rounds.

This was in stark contrast to Rubio’s earlier message on X, where he said the peace proposal was authored by the US. “It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations. It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine," he said.

Rubio, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff are meeting with Ukrainian advisers and envoys from European countries in Geneva on Sunday before engaging the Russians for peace talks.

ALSO READ: ‘Zelenskyy Can Fight His Little Heart Out’: Trump Talks Tough On Ukraine Plan, Says Offer Not Final

Trump’s Peace Plan

A 28-point proposal, reportedly drafted by Witkoff and his Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev, seeks to end the war through a sweeping package of territorial, military, and political concessions. The leaked draft plan calls for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from parts of the Donetsk region they still hold, while recognising de facto Russian control over Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea.

Zelenskyy, addressing Ukrainians on Friday, signalled deep reservations about the proposal. He warned that Ukraine faces “a very tough choice, either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner." Moreover, Trump said Zelenskyy would “have to like" the proposals to end the war.

However, Trump on Saturday said the US proposal was not his “final offer" but his patience was running thin, saying if Zelenskyy refuses the plan, then he can “continue to fight his little heart out."

Criticism Over Peace Plan

European leaders strongly pushed back against the plan as they huddled together on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africa to discuss steps to support Ukraine. “Wars cannot be ended by major powers over the heads of the countries affected," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Republican senators Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham also criticised the plan, with the former saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been trying to play Trump “for a fool" and “rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to America’s interests."

Meanwhile, Putin confirmed on Friday that Moscow had received the US plan and said it could lay the foundation of a “final peaceful settlement" in the war, but also warned that Russia was ready to continue fighting if necessary.

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