Marco Rubio found himself on the defensive last night following claims from a bipartisan group of senators that he had informed them the United States’ peace proposal for Ukraine was crafted by Russia.
The U.S. Secretary of State countered these claims, with a spokesperson labeling them as “blatantly false.” Nevertheless, this dispute jeopardizes President Trump’s efforts to finalize a peace agreement within the week.
In an unusual move, Rubio suggested online that the senators misunderstood, despite their insistence that he was their source for this information.
The Secretary of State reaffirmed that the proposal originated in Washington, despite criticisms from Europe, where it is seen as overly accommodating to Moscow.
The 28-point peace plan supported by the U.S. was reportedly the culmination of a month-long collaboration involving Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, and contributions from both Ukrainian and Russian representatives, according to the White House.
The proposal concedes to several Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently opposed, such as ceding substantial territories.
Trump says he wants Ukraine to accept the plan by late next week.
“This administration was not responsible for this release in its current form,” said Republican Mike Rounds from South Dakota, speaking at a security conference in Canada. “They want to utilize it as a starting point.”
Marco Rubio took the extraordinary step of suggesting online that the senators were mistaken, even though they said he was their source for the information
Rounds said “it looked more like it was written in Russian to begin with.”
The senators said they spoke to Rubio after he reached out to some of them while on his way to Geneva for talks on the plan. Independent Maine Sen. Angus King said Rubio told them the plan “was not the administration´s plan” but a “wish list of the Russians.”
The bipartisan group of senators, who are veteran legislators and among those most focused on foreign relations, stood together at the press conference as they relayed Rubio’s message on the call.
Rubio, who serves as both national security adviser and secretary of state, was expected to attend a meeting in Geneva on Sunday to discuss Washington´s proposal as part of a U.S. delegation, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to publicly discuss the American participants before the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.
“The peace proposal was authored by the U.S. It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations,” Rubio posted on X. “It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine,” Rubio wrote.
Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesperson, said the senators’ account was “blatantly false.”
A senior Trump administration official, who insisted on anonymity to detail internal discussions, noted Saturday night that the White House has consistently maintained that the plan was authored by the U.S. but included input from Russians and Ukrainians.
British prime minister Keir Starmer, one of Ukraine’s most vocal allies, was among the European leaders who said the leaked plan ‘will require work’
Ukraine has faced regular bombardment from Russia since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February, 2022
The official said the plan had always been considered by the administration as a helpful place to start continued negotiations with an eye toward working to a more lasting peace plan.
The senators earlier Saturday said the plan would only reward Moscow for its aggression and send a message to other leaders who have threatened their neighbors.
“It rewards aggression. This is pure and simple. There´s no ethical, legal, moral, political justification for Russia claiming eastern Ukraine,” King said during a panel discussion at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada.
Putin welcomed the proposal late Friday, saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement” if the U.S. can get Ukraine and its European allies to agree.
Zelenskyy, in an address, did not reject the plan outright, but insisted on fair treatment while pledging to “work calmly” with Washington and other partners in what he called “truly one of the most difficult moments in our history.”
In its 17th year, about 300 people gather annually at the Halifax International Security Forum held at Halifax´s Westin hotel. The forum attracts military officials, U.S. senators, diplomats and scholars but this year the Trump administration suspended participation of U.S. defense officials in events by think tanks, including the Halifax International Security Forum.
A large number of U.S. senators made the trip this year in part because of strained relations between Canada and the U.S. Trump has alienated America´s neighbor with his trade war and insistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. Many Canadians now refuse to travel to the U.S. and border states like Shaheen´s New Hampshire are seeing a dramatic drop in tourism.
