In a dramatic escalation of uncertainty surrounding Washington’s 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is demanding full transparency about who actually authored the plan — and where it originated — before Europe commits to shaping it. His warning, delivered Sunday on X, exposes deepening suspicion among Western leaders that the controversial document may reflect Russian fingerprints more than American strategy.
A Peace Plan Wrapped in Mystery
Tusk confirmed that leaders from Europe, Canada, and Japan have agreed in principle to work on the U.S. proposal, despite “several reservations.” But he issued a blunt caveat:
“Before we begin our work, it would be good to know exactly who wrote this plan and where it was created.”
That unusually sharp message landed just hours after G20 leaders met in Johannesburg to discuss the plan — which, according to multiple media outlets, aligns strikingly with Moscow’s demands.
G20 Leaders Voice Unease
During Saturday’s high-level meeting, European, Canadian, and Japanese officials warned that several provisions — especially those limiting the size and deployment of Ukraine’s armed forces — raise serious security concerns. While leaders agreed the plan can serve as a “basis for further work,” none endorsed it outright.
Diplomats from Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, and the U.S. will meet Sunday in Geneva to dissect the document line-by-line.
The Guardian’s Bombshell: Portions Read Like Russian Originals
Adding fuel to the fire, The Guardian reported Friday that portions of the U.S.-branded peace plan appear to have been “originally written in Russian.” Linguistic analysis showed several passages that read naturally in Russian but seem “odd and unnatural” in English — triggering doubts about the document’s true origin.
The report revived long-standing concerns about behind-the-scenes Russian manipulation of diplomatic frameworks.
Miami Meeting Raises Eyebrows
Questions grew louder after Reuters revealed that in late October, two of President Trump’s envoys — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — held a three-day meeting in Miami with Kirill Dmitriev, a sanctioned Russian negotiator who remains under U.S. Treasury restrictions.
According to one official cited by Reuters, the group “jointly drafted” a peace framework during the meeting. Dmitriev is closely tied to the Kremlin and previously coordinated messaging operations through Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.
If confirmed, this would mean a U.S. peace plan was co-crafted with a senior Russian official behind closed doors — a revelation that would send shockwaves through Western capitals.
The White House Denies Everything
The Trump administration responded overnight, flatly rejecting any suggestion of Russian involvement. U.S. officials insist that the plan was authored solely by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, and that Moscow had no hand in shaping it.
Privately, however, Congressional sources tell Reuters they are “increasingly alarmed” about the Miami meeting and its possible implications.
A Plan Serving Moscow’s Interests?
Critics argue the proposal heavily mirrors Russian demands, including:
- concessions on Ukrainian territory
- limits on Ukrainian troop levels
- steps that could weaken Kyiv’s defensive posture
For Kyiv and its allies, anything resembling forced concessions would undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and reward Russian aggression.
Tusk: The West Won’t Proceed Blindly
Tusk’s message signals that Europe will not rubber-stamp any plan whose authorship remains murky.
“Before we begin, we need clarity,” he warned — a sign that Western unity may hinge on whether Washington can convincingly explain how the proposal was drafted and by whom.
As Geneva talks begin, the question hanging over Western diplomacy is simple — yet explosive:
Is the U.S.-backed peace plan truly American… or partly Russian?