JOHANNESBURG, November 23. /TASS/. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed that talks are underway in Geneva between EU, US, and Ukrainian delegations and said that he has advanced a new proposal on Ukraine.
"Now, we are to elaborate a worthy document on the basis of the 28-point plan suggested by the US administration that would be submitted and adopted by Ukraine at talks with Russia," he said after the Group of Twenty summit in Johannesburg.
"I have advanced a new proposal that is, so to speak, doesn’t go beyond the ultimate solution [the US plan]. I’d rather not disclose details here because talks in Geneva are underway," he stated.
According to Merz, the proposal is mean to "at least take the first step on Thursday (November 27 - TASS)." "If what is listed in the 28 point (of the US plan) is too much for five days, I want at least to try to introduce a provision on with it would be possible to reach an agreement with Russia on the Ukraine side with the approval from the Americans and Europeans," he explained.
He once again stated that Kiev need reliable security guarantees.
On the US peace plan
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that this plan is not the final offer to the Kiev government. If Zelensky refuses to accept his plan, according to Trump, "he can continue to fight his little heart out."
According to the US-proposed plan, which was leaked to the Western media, the United States and other countries will have to recognize Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, Donbass and other territories that Ukraine will have to give up. In return, Kiev will receive American and European security guarantees. A demilitarized zone will be created, and Ukrainian troops will be withdrawn from areas therein.
The Axios portal quoted an American official as saying that the line of contact between the nations in the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions will be frozen, and Russia will have to return some areas to Ukraine. The Ukrainian army will be significantly reduced and will lose long-range weapons. The deployment of foreign troops will be banned, and Russian will have to become an official state language. Bloomberg reported that the new US plan also provides for the lifting of sanctions against Russia.