Prime Minister Mark Carney, together with a group of world leaders gathered in South Africa, released a collective statement on Saturday expressing concerns about President Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace plan, stating that further efforts are needed to achieve peace. The leaders convened on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg to discuss the situation in Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s warning about the challenging times faced by his country.
Zelenskyy is under pressure from Trump to accept a plan aimed at ending the conflict by November 27. The joint statement emphasized the importance of upholding the principle that borders should not be altered through force and raised worries about the proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s military capabilities, leaving the nation susceptible to future attacks.
Trump’s 28-point proposal requires Kyiv to concede territory, place limits on its military size, and abandon aspirations of joining NATO, aligning with long-standing Russian demands. Despite including provisions that Russia may not favor, such as withdrawing military forces from certain captured areas in Ukraine, the plan has faced criticism.
In response to Trump’s plan, Zelenskyy delivered a video message to the nation, highlighting the intense pressure exerted on Ukraine. The international meeting included representatives from Canada, the European Council, the European Commission, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Finland, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and Ireland.
Trump clarified that his current peace proposal for Ukraine is not final and stressed the necessity of ending the war. However, global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw, present at the G20, criticized the plan as detrimental to Ukraine, warning that accepting it could jeopardize the country’s sovereignty.
Carney affirmed that parts of Trump’s plan are constructive and pledged to collaborate closely with Ukraine and the U.S. Moving forward, discussions with international partners will continue to refine the proposal for a just and enduring peace.
Bilateral meetings between Carney and leaders from France, Norway, the European Union, Germany, and the U.K. were scheduled to further support Ukraine against Russian aggression. Notably, South Africa, the host of the G20 summit, restricted foreign media from filming these encounters, a departure from standard practice at such events.
Trump’s assertive stance on his peace plan was reiterated on Friday, emphasizing that Zelenskyy must accept it for peace to prevail. While Russian President Vladimir Putin viewed the proposal as a potential foundation for a final settlement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Russia’s lack of commitment to peace and highlighted ongoing hostilities in the region.
The G20 leaders also discussed pressing global issues, including climate change, in a declaration adopted on Saturday. Notably, a White House official criticized the drafting of the declaration without U.S. input, labeling it as “shameful.”
