A group of European and NATO leaders released a joint statement on Saturday to welcome the 28-point peace plan proposed to Ukraine by US President Trump but also call for “additional work” on it, expressing specific concerns and calling it a “draft.”

The presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, along with the leaders of Canada, Finland, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the UK, have all adopted the statement, which comes hours before Ukraine is expected to begin consultations with the US in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday.

National security advisors from France, the UK, Germany and European Union officials will also be present.

While Ukraine is reportedly under enormous pressure to take or leave Trump’s controversial peace deal by Thursday, November 27, the US President on Saturday told reporters outside the White House that the proposal was not his “final offer,” PBS reports.

“I would like to get to peace. It should have happened a long time ago. The Ukraine war with Russia should have never happened,” President Trump said. “One way or the other, we have to get it ended.”

Trump’s Ukraine peace plan is basis for talks

The US peace plan aspires to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is currently in its third year of conflict.

“We welcome the continued US efforts to bring peace to Ukraine,” the statement by the European and NATO leaders starts, acknowledging that “the initial draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace.”

“We believe therefore that the draft is a basis which will require additional work,” it continues.

The European and NATO leaders declare ready to engage in the Ukraine peace talks in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable, but are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force.

They also express their concerns for the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack.

“We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to NATO would need the consent of EU and NATO members respectively,” it adds, before underlining the strength of their continued support to Ukraine.

The leaders signing the joint statement conclude that they will continue to coordinate closely with Ukraine and the US over the coming days.