Portugal’s president Marcelo has said that he welcomes Europe’s opposition to the peace plan proposed by the United States to end the war in Ukraine, brokered by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.
“I am pleased to see that Europe, and many European leaders, consider the plan unacceptable. I am pleased to see that the High Representative (of the European Union) considers this, that some politicians from various countries consider this,” the head of state told the press at the end of a state visit to Monaco.
Marcelo explained that he views Europe’s opposition “with joy” because the plan – certainly as it has been presented – would be “throwing away” positions defended throughout the more than three years of conflict, and “would be a very serious precedent.”
“We cannot let Ukraine fall, we cannot allow Ukraine, which was invaded, be treated as the invader, and we cannot suddenly throw away positions that have been defended for three years before the Ukrainian people and before the Ukrainian state. Nobody would understand…”
To be fair, very few do appear to understand the plan.
Politico, for example, quotes a senior EU politician as saying that Steve Witkoff “needs to see a psychiatrist”.
Among the unpalatable (pro-Russian) terms ‘on the table’ is a provision for the United States to actually profit from the ‘frozen Russian assets’ that the Europeans are trying so hard to release for the benefit of Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Donald Trump seems to consider the date of Thanksgiving next week (Thursday) to be “an appropriate time” for Kyiv to accept this ‘deal’ or ‘everything could be off the table’ (including the sharing of intelligence crucial for Ukraine’s survival on the battlefield). Europeans are thus rapidly getting their ducks in a row as they meet in South Africa (for the G20) today. The idea is for a joint counter-proposal to be presented.
Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel has already criticised the US proposal saying that it “should have resulted from a prior hearing with Ukraine, which did not take place” – and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he refuses to betray his nation (which acceptance of the plan as it stands would constitute).
“I will present arguments, persuade, and propose alternatives,” Zelenskyy told Ukrainians in a video address last night.
This “is one of the most difficult and pressured moments” in the embattled country’s history, he conceded, as the country faces “very difficult choices” in light of the 28-point proposal.
“Either it loses its dignity or it risks losing a key ally (…) Either 28 difficult points or an extremely complicated winter.”
The White House plan (US presidency) meets the main Russian demands, says Lusa: it gives Russia land that it does not control; it seeks to reduce Ukraine’s army by half; renounce any idea of NATO membership; it even seeks to prohibit the landing of any diplomatic planes on Ukraine territory.
“We all want this war to end, but how it ends matters. Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded,” said the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas yesterday. “This is a very dangerous moment for all.”
