Dutch have “major questions” about US peace plan for Ukraine

Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said on Friday he had “major questions” about elements of the US peace plan for Ukraine, which was leaked to various international media on Thursday.

Brekelmans has declined to say what his objections are to the 28-point plan, which has not yet been officially released, the Volkskrant reported on Friday afternoon.

According to Politico, the plan includes Ukraine giving up its claim to land now occupied by Russian forces and abandoning its ambition to join Nato. Ukraine sees Nato membership as a security guarantee against a future Russian invasion.

The plan was developed between Moscow and Washington over several months, and neither Ukraine nor Brussels were involved.

Asked about the option of Ukraine giving up the Donbas and Crimea, Brekelmans said: “You know where we stand if we are talking about the territorial integrity of Ukraine.” The Dutch cabinet’s position is that it is up to Ukraine alone to decide whether it wants to make territorial concessions to Russia.

European and Ukrainian officials have rejected the 28-point plan, warning that caving in to Russia would only encourage Vladimir Putin to attack Nato next.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, told Trump’s team that their proposal for a ceasefire will fail without support from both Kyiv and European governments, which are now the biggest donors to Ukraine’s war effort.