Canada is urged to provide Ukraine with as much support as possible during ongoing peace negotiations with the United States. The discussions, which began last Thursday, follow the U.S. presenting a controversial peace plan that has raised concerns among Western allies. The plan, developed in collaboration with Moscow, has been criticized as a capitulation that could leave Ukraine vulnerable to further Russian aggression.

The 28-point proposal includes demands for Ukraine to relinquish control of the remaining parts of Donetsk province, where key defensive positions are located. It also suggests limiting Ukraine's military size to 600,000 personnel, a reduction of about 25 percent from current levels. Additionally, the plan prohibits Ukraine from joining NATO or hosting NATO troops, effectively blocking any potential European-led peacekeeping forces.

The proposal further outlines that Russia would be reintegrated into the global economy, and it includes a plan for Washington and Moscow to sign an economic cooperation agreement. This agreement would facilitate joint exploitation of Arctic rare earth metals. Of the $300 billion in Russian assets currently frozen in Western institutions, one-third would be allocated for Ukraine's reconstruction and resource sector, with the U.S. taking half of any profits generated from these ventures.

Following the plan's release, it faced widespread backlash. A group of American lawmakers claimed that U.S. Secretary of State Marc Rubio indicated the plan was essentially a Russian “wishlist” and not reflective of U.S. policy. Rubio denied this assertion, and President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine must agree to the deal by November 27 or risk losing American support.

Negotiations in Geneva commenced shortly after, with European leaders reportedly proposing their own counteroffers over the weekend. The European plan does not outright ban Ukraine's NATO membership but suggests that the U.S. provide NATO-like security guarantees. This would allow for the deployment of European peacekeepers on a limited or bilateral basis.

The European counterproposal also raises the cap on Ukraine's military to 800,000 personnel during peacetime, aligning more closely with current numbers and allowing for increased militarization in times of crisis. It also seeks to prevent the U.S. from profiting excessively from Ukraine's natural resources and emphasizes that Ukraine will be fully reconstructed and compensated financially, including through frozen Russian sovereign assets until Russia compensates for damages.

Rubio, when asked about the European counterproposals, claimed he was unaware of them, raising questions about the clarity of the situation. However, reports indicate that Ukrainian-American negotiations in Geneva were productive. The White House announced that Ukrainian representatives had revised the draft, addressing key concerns related to security guarantees, sovereignty, and economic development.

Rubio described the talks as “highly productive,” leading to an “updated and refined framework.” He noted, “This is a living, breathing document. Every day, with input, it changes,” suggesting that the November 27 deadline might be flexible. Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya confirmed that “very few things are left from the original version,” indicating significant progress in the negotiations.