🔗 Share this article Trump Says Peace Proposal Isn't 'Final Offer' as Representatives Convene for Geneva Talks Former President Trump indicated on Saturday that the Russian-prepared proposal for peace was "not my final offer", after strong criticism from Ukraine's officials and commentators that likened it to a 1938 Munich agreement involving Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler. In short comments from the White House, the US president told journalists: "We’d like to get to peace. This should have occurred earlier … we are attempting to conclude it, in any case we have to get it ended." Forthcoming Switzerland Negotiations Include Multiple Nations US and Ukrainian delegates are scheduled to meet in Switzerland this Sunday to discuss this proposal. Security officials from France, Britain and Germany will also participate in the talks in Geneva. Ahead of the talks, American lawmakers informed the press that Secretary of State Rubio reached out to them while en route to Geneva for clarification on the nature of this disclosed proposal. He said, the proposal did not originate from the administration but instead reflected Russian desires, according to independent Maine senator King, a member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ukraine's President Confronts Crucial Deadline Nevertheless, the former president has set Volodymyr Zelenskyy until Thursday for signing the 28-point document. The document requires Ukraine to give up land it currently controls to Moscow, reduce the size of its army, and surrender long-range weapons. It also rules out a European peacekeeping force and sanctions for Russian war crimes. During a solemn speech last Friday, Zelenskyy cautioned that his country confronts an impossible choice over the coming days involving keeping its national dignity and losing a major partner like the United States. Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine is experiencing one of the most difficult moments historically. Ukrainian Negotiating Delegation Appointed for Upcoming Meetings In comments this weekend, Zelenskyy emphasized that real or "dignified" resolution was always based on "guaranteed security and justice". He revealed a delegation, established through a decree, that would soon meet American representatives in Switzerland, headed by his chief of staff Andriy Yermak. Another member from Ukraine's team, ex-defense head and security council official Rustem Umerov, said they will hold discussions with Washington "on the possible parameters of a future peace agreement". Hinting at red lines, he noted: Ukraine enters these talks with defined goals. This is another stage of the dialogue that has been ongoing in recent days and is primarily aimed at aligning our vision for the next steps." International Response and Concerns Zelenskyy has attempted to participate positively with the US administration seemingly determined to end the conflict on the Kremlin’s one-sided terms. He has emphasized he cannot give up Ukraine’s sovereignty or abandon the constitutional framework that enshrines the country’s current borders. During a summit in South Africa, G20 leaders and the European Council issued a joint statement pushing back on the proposed deal, saying it needs further refinement. It said that members of the EU and NATO must be involved on some of its provisions, which rule out Ukraine's NATO accession and put conditions on its future EU accession. Public Opinion in Ukraine's Capital Responses from Ukrainians to the text, drawn up by a Russian representative and a US delegate, have been largely negative. Analysts argued it outlined a plan for further Russian aggression: targeting not just Ukraine but other European regions too. Mustafa Nayyem, a journalist and politician involved in Ukraine’s 2014 pro-democracy Maidan revolution, said it drew comparisons with the Munich Agreement. The proposal belonged to the same "recognisable genre", with the victim invited to outline its own surrender for broader convenience. In a Facebook post, he expressed his anger by the complete pardon for Russian atrocities. This offended those who sought shelter in affected cities – sites of civilian executions – and for those whose children had been forcibly deported to Russia. A deeply cynical deal, he concluded. Speaking in Kyiv’s Golden Gate metro station, Dmytro Sariskyi, 21, said that Moscow has attempted to control Ukraine politically and territorially over many years. It conceded "barely anything" in the Trump agreement and maintained troops in Ukraine. In my view, this deal aims to undermine Ukraine and impose unfair terms, he said. Should Ukraine accept the terms it would be compelled to sacrifice its liberties, he added. If it didn’t, the US would most likely break off cooperation and intelligence sharing, a vital resource of military intelligence for Ukraine's forces. "There is no good way out of this for now," he noted. Varied Perspectives from Ukrainian Citizens A different commuter, 19-year-old Barchan, said that Ukraine would remain resilient lacking US backing. We will continue our struggle as needed. Crimea and the eastern regions are part of Ukraine. It belongs to Ukraine." She expressed Zelenskyy was a "smart person" and forecasted he would not give up Ukrainian land. Speaking during rainfall, next to a replica of Kyiv’s original medieval gate, Ivanovna mentioned her appreciation to the former US leader for his peace-making efforts. She said that the nation ought to consider ceding certain regions temporarily if it meant keeping America as a partner. The president should conduct a public vote on this matter, she proposed. EU Leaders Criticize the Plan Previous European leaders have roundly condemned this proposal. Finland’s former prime minister Sanna Marin called it a catastrophe, affecting not just Ukraine but for democracies worldwide. She said if the west showed weakness and ignorance – as it did in 2014 when Putin annexed Crimea – further hostilities would follow. The former prime minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, referenced a statement by Churchill regarding appeasement as someone who accommodates an aggressor. He continued: "Trump now takes Putin’s side. Europe faces a choice between compromise and principles. A critical juncture for the European Union."