• Western leaders at the G20 summit stress the US peace plan needs "additional work".
• Concerns raised about limitations on Ukraine's armed forces and territorial adjustments.
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy faces pressure amid contentious elements of the plan.
• Leaders from multiple countries emphasize the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty.
• The plan includes demands favorable to Russia, heightening tensions in Kyiv.

European leaders have expressed serious reservations about a proposed 28-point peace plan from the U.S. for ending the ongoing Ukraine war, stating that the draft needs "additional work." During a joint statement issued at the G20 summit in South Africa, leaders from Canada, the EU, and several European nations acknowledged that while the plan contains essential elements for a "just and lasting peace," significant concerns remain regarding the proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces and potential territorial concessions.

The draft reportedly suggests that Ukraine must surrender territories such as the Donbas region and Crimea, as well as abandon its NATO membership aspirations. This has sparked alarm within Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighting the difficult position he faces: "the loss of our dignity or the risk of losing a key partner," a situation he described as one of the most challenging moments in the nation's history. The leaders at the summit reiterated that any changes to borders should not involve force, and they expressed worries about the draft's implications for Ukraine's security moving forward.

The joint statement noted, "We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force," emphasizing that both NATO and EU elements of the plan must have the consent of their member states. The statement signals a cautious approach towards the U.S. framework, which many leaders believe could inadvertently leave Ukraine vulnerable to future aggression by Russia. President Trump has set a response deadline of November 27 for Zelenskyy, highlighting the urgency of the situation as negotiations continue.