Poland stresses Ukraine's role in talks on US-backed peace plan

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Like other European states, Poland on Friday reaffirmed that Ukraine must play a central role in any negotiations to end the ongoing war with Russia, amid discussions over a new 28-point peace plan drafted by the US.

"All the decisions concerning Poland will be taken by Poles. Nothing about us without us. When it comes to peace, all the negotiations should include Ukraine. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on US social media platform X.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb also said on X that his government is reviewing the plan together with allies and Ukraine, signaling a cautious approach to the initiative.

"Yesterday, a 28-point draft plan for ending the Ukraine war was made public. We are currently assessing the situation together with our allies and Ukraine," he said.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban praised the initiative and criticized EU plans to provide further financial aid to Ukraine, calling it "financing the war."

"While Washington is negotiating peace, the President of the Commission is busy figuring out how to secure even more money for Ukraine and for financing the war," he said on social media.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also highlighted the plan's potential to rebuild European-Russian relations and strengthen continental economic interests.

"The contrast is striking. While the Americans are putting forward a peace plan, Brussels and European leaders want to hand another €100 billion to Ukraine to prolong the war. We call on European politicians not to undermine the American efforts for peace," he wrote on X.

Ukraine’s presidential office said Volodymyr Zelenksyy received the draft plan and that he expects to discuss with Trump the “existing diplomatic opportunities and the key points required to achieve peace.”

Zelenksyy, who spoke to the leaders of Germany, France and the UK on Friday, said they are “working to ensure that Ukraine’s national interests are taken into account at every level of our relations with partners.”