US senators say Rubio told them Trump’s Ukraine peace plan is Russia’s ‘wish list’

U.S. senators have alleged that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told them President Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace proposal is a Russian ‘wish list,’ a claim that Rubio and the Trump administration have firmly rejected, creating a diplomatic controversy. The controversy erupted on Saturday when a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Republican Mike Rounds and Independent Angus King, reported that they had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to the senators, Rubio informed them that the 28-point peace plan being pushed by the Trump administration was not the U.S. government’s official proposal but rather a document that aligned closely with Russian demands. This revelation came during the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada, where the lawmakers were attending discussions on global security issues. The peace plan in question has been widely leaked and includes significant concessions to Russia, such as ceding large portions of Ukrainian territory that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly vowed never to surrender. Trump has set a deadline for Ukraine to accept the plan by late next week, adding pressure on Kyiv amid ongoing conflict. The senators described the proposal as rewarding Russian aggression and undermining international norms against territorial expansion. In response, Rubio took to social media platform X to deny the senators’ account, stating that the peace proposal was ‘authored by the U.S.’ and served as a ‘strong framework for ongoing negotiations.’ He emphasized that it incorporated input from both Russian and Ukrainian sides, aiming to facilitate a negotiated settlement. A State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, labeled the lawmakers’ claims as ‘blatantly false,’ reinforcing the administration’s stance. The senators stood by their version of events, noting that Rubio had reached out to them while en route to Geneva for talks on the plan. They expressed concern that the proposal, if implemented, would signal to other nations that aggression could be rewarded, potentially destabilizing global security. King, in particular, stressed that there was no justification for Russia’s claims on eastern Ukraine, calling the plan a dangerous precedent. Internationally, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the proposal late Friday, suggesting it could form the basis for a final peace settlement if accepted by Ukraine and its allies. Conversely, Zelenskyy, in a public address, did not outright reject the plan but insisted on fair treatment and pledged to work calmly with international partners during what he described as one of Ukraine’s most challenging periods. The incident has highlighted tensions within the Trump administration’s foreign policy approach and raised questions about the coherence of its Ukraine strategy. The Halifax forum, now in its 17th year, typically attracts high-level U.S. officials, but this year, the Trump administration suspended participation of defense officials, reflecting broader strains in U.S.-Canada relations exacerbated by trade disputes and political rhetoric. As the situation develops, the conflicting accounts from Rubio and the senators cast doubt on the prospects for the peace plan. With Trump demanding a quick acceptance and Ukraine resisting key concessions, the diplomatic efforts face significant hurdles. The outcome could influence not only the Russia-Ukraine war but also U.S. credibility in international negotiations.