European leaders and other allies of Ukraine appear concerned after the Trump ultimatum to Zelensky and the publication - through numerous leaks to the press - of a US plan to end the war in Ukraine.

As they emphasized today, Saturday, in a joint statement expressing their reservations, the draft proposals constitute a basis that will require additional work.

There is a chance to end this war, but we are a long way from a good common solution , said German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, from Johannesburg.

The plan, whose main author was Trump's envoy, Steven Witkoff, is widely seen as friendly to Russian positions.

Amid mounting pressure from Trump, who has made it clear that he expects a response from Kiev by next Thursday, Ukraine announced today the start of consultations with the Americans in Switzerland. American officials told Reuters a short time later that the consultations will begin tomorrow in Geneva.

11 Western leaders worried

The US plan for Ukraine requires further work, several Western leaders said at the G20 summit.

In a joint statement, the leaders of eleven countries, including Europeans, called for further discussion on the plan proposed by the United States.

The 28-point plan proposed by Washington is a basis that will require further work, they said, expressing particular concern about proposed restrictions on the Ukrainian armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks.

The statement was signed by Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa for the EU, as well as by French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Ministers Mark Carney of Canada, Michael Martin of Ireland, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Sanae Takaichi of Japan, Dick Soof of the Netherlands, Pedro Sanchez of Spain, Keir Starmer of Britain and Jonas Gar Store of Norway.

Consultations begin

Meanwhile, Ukrainian and American officials will meet in Switzerland for consultations and to discuss Donald Trump's plan to end the nearly four-year Russian invasion of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's security council, announced.

National security advisers from France, Germany and Britain (E3) will also meet with officials from the European Union, the US and Ukraine in Geneva tomorrow, Sunday.

This 28-point plan is being viewed with great concern in Kiev, as it incorporates several key Russian demands: the cession of territory by Ukraine, the acceptance of a reduction in the size of its army, and the renunciation of NATO membership.

However, it offers Kiev Western security guarantees to deter further Russian attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a decree forming a delegation to participate in negotiations with the United States and other allies of Kiev, as well as with representatives of Russia, to achieve a just and lasting peace. The delegation is headed by Andriy Yermak.

Fantasy

There can be no peace in Ukraine without the Ukrainians and without respect for their sovereignty, French President Emmanuel Macron said during a speech at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met earlier to discuss the US plan for Ukraine on the sidelines of the G20 summit, the Elysee Palace announced.

US Vice President J.D. Vance said for his part that the idea of a Ukrainian victory achieved through more money, more weapons or more US sanctions is a fantasy.