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I was going to write that Russia is seeking legitimacy for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine – and US President Donald Trump seems keen to help out.

But things have changed.

It seems the worst elements of the original US-Russia draft have been pushed back, chiefly because the UK, France and Germany refused to accept a plan that effectively rewarded Russia for its invasion.

Here’s the BBC:

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed proposed changes to the controversial 28-point peace plan for ending the war with Russia.

“It appears Ukraine’s European allies produced an amended version of the plan after rejecting parts which favoured Russia’s war aims.

““Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable…” Zelensky said on Telegram. “Many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework.”

“Speaking to the Financial Times, Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergiy Kyslytsa, who attended the weekend talks in Geneva, said the latest plan consisted of just 19 points, with some of the most politically sensitive elements, including territorial concessions, now due to be decided by the leaders themselves.

“The counter-proposals – reportedly drafted by the UK, France and Germany – excluded any recognition of Russian-held regions, raised Ukraine’s permitted army size, and left the door open to Ukraine joining Nato.

“Russia has consistently demanded full Ukrainian withdrawal from the whole of the eastern Donbas, made up of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It also controls Crimea and large parts of two other regions, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

“In Moscow, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters: “The European plan, at first glance… is completely unconstructive and does not work for us.””

The picture has shifted in three important ways…

To read the rest, head over to The Whip Line.

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