In addition to French President Emmanuel Macron, the heads of state and government of Germany, Italy and Great Britain as well as Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Norway also signed the declaration. Image: keystone
Germany and other leading supporters of Ukraine reject the US plan to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in its current form.
November 22, 2025, 3:36 p.mNovember 22, 2025, 3:48 p.m
Although the current draft represents a basis, further work must be done on the plan, according to a statement published after a crisis meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg. People are ready to get involved to ensure that a future peace is sustainable.
As confirmed to the German Press Agency from German government circles, representatives of leading European states want to talk to the USA and Ukraine about the US peace plan on Sunday. The meeting would take place in Geneva, it was said.
The declaration states that borders should not be changed by force. There are also concerns about the proposed restrictions on the Ukrainian armed forces, which would make Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks.
Merz: Not without Ukraine’s consent
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) emphasized at the G20 summit that there could be no end to the war there without Ukraine’s consent. “Wars cannot be ended by great powers over the heads of the countries involved,” he said in response to the new US peace plan. “Of course, there can only be an end to the war if there is full consent from Ukraine.” (sda/dpa)
Non-Europeans also support the declaration
In addition to Merz, the heads of state and government of France, Italy and Great Britain as well as Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Norway signed the declaration. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa were there on behalf of the EU. As non-Europeans, the top political representatives of Canada and Japan also support the declaration.
The signatories’ goal is to negotiate what they see as unacceptable concessions to Russia from the Americans’ 28-point plan. The US proposal, for example, stipulates that Ukraine also cede previously defended areas to Russia, limit its military capabilities and that NATO declare a renunciation of any expansion.
Russia, on the other hand, would only have to make comparatively small concessions and, among other things, forego state assets frozen in the EU. This would be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Ukraine and European partners are in a quandary
US President Donald Trump wants Ukraine to essentially accept the plan by next Thursday. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, if Ukraine rejects the plan, it risks losing the USA as a key partner.
Without support from the largest military power, which sells weapons to Ukraine and provides data for waging war against Russia, continuing the defensive fight against the invaders would be significantly more difficult.
The situation is also difficult for Germany and Ukraine’s other European partners. They fear that a peace plan that rewards the aggressor will not bring lasting peace on the continent. At the same time, given the strained financial situation and a population in many countries that is sometimes tired of support, they are also very interested in an end to the war. According to information from Brussels, the European Union and its member states alone have already spent more than 187 billion euros on supporting Ukraine. (sda/dpa)