Rubio debunks reports Ukraine peace plan was crafted by Russia

A group of U.S. senators voiced strong criticism Saturday over former President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war, claiming they spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio who told them that the plan was essentially a “wish list” created by Russia.

“There’s no ethical, legal, moral, or political justification for Russia claiming eastern Ukraine,” King said during a panel discussion at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada.

Maine Senator Angus King, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, along with Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, revealed that they had spoken directly with Rubio about the plan. 

According to King, Rubio told them that the proposal was not the U.S. administration’s official position, but rather a Russian “wish list.”

Rubio, however, debunked those claims in a social media post on Saturday night, asserting that the peace plan was “authored by the U.S” and called it a “strong framework” for ongoing peace negotiations. He stressed that the proposal was developed with input from both Russia and Ukraine.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott quickly responded to these allegations, calling them “blatantly false.” He said the plan was developed with input from both Russia and Ukraine, and that it represents a starting point for continued negotiations.

The 28-point peace proposal includes several concessions to Russian demands, including territorial compromises that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected before. 

Trump has been vocal in urging Ukraine to accept the plan by the end of next week.

Critics have argued that the peace plan would reward Russia for its ongoing aggression and send a dangerous message to other autocratic leaders around the world.