Europe Pushes Back: EU Counters Trump’s Peace Plan With an 800,000-Troop Cap for Ukraine
Europe has drawn a clear line in Geneva. During a new round of tense peace negotiations, European officials unveiled a counter-offer to the Trump administration’s 28-point peace plan—one that raises the proposed limit on Ukraine’s army and directly challenges Washington and Moscow’s preferred terms.
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The European plan caps Ukraine’s forces at 800,000 personnel, rejecting the much lower 600,000 figure floated in President Trump’s draft proposal. Ukraine’s army today stands at roughly 850,000 troops, making it already one of the largest military forces in the world.
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This move is more than a numbers debate. It signals Europe’s intent to push back against what many EU lawmakers describe as a dangerously pro-Russian proposal—one that could force Kyiv to cede territory, restrict its defence posture, and limit foreign troop presence inside Ukraine.
Below is a full breakdown of what happened in Geneva, why Europe is resisting Washington’s plan, and what it means for the future of the war.
Key Points
Europe rejects Trump’s proposed 600,000-troop cap on Ukraine’s military, offering 800,000 instead.
Ukraine-Russia war live_ Europe…EU officials insist Ukraine must retain the ability to defend itself after any deal.
European lawmakers warn Trump against “appeasing Russia,” calling such concessions “morally reprehensible.”
Ukraine-Russia war live_ Europe…A separate European peace plan includes allowing foreign troops on Ukrainian soil—another direct contradiction of the US-Russia draft.
Zelensky says Ukraine is working “as constructively as possible,” but remains cautious.
Ukraine-Russia war live_ Europe…The negotiations come days after Russia’s deadliest strike of 2025, which killed 34 civilians.
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Europe’s Counter-Plan: A Strategic Rebuff
During the negotiations in Geneva, EU representatives arrived with a 24-point proposal that stands in stark contrast to Trump’s leaked 28-point plan. The European document—drafted by allies including Britain—pushes back hard on several fronts:
No ban on foreign troops in Ukraine. Trump’s plan, written jointly with Russia, demands the removal of friendly foreign forces. Europe rejects that outright.
Ukraine-Russia war live_ Europe…No restriction on Ukraine’s NATO ambitions. Washington and Moscow’s version bars Ukraine from joining the alliance. Europe sides with Kyiv: NATO decides membership, not Russia.
Ceasefire first, territorial talks second. Europe insists negotiations on land must follow a complete ceasefire along the current front line.
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Europe’s most symbolic move is the push for an 800,000-troop cap—far above Moscow’s earlier demand of 85,000 during the 2022 Istanbul talks.
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This isn’t compromise. It’s a declaration that Ukraine’s long-term security cannot be traded away.
Trump Responds With Fury
President Trump reacted sharply, accusing Ukraine’s leadership of showing “zero gratitude” and criticising Europe for continuing to buy Russian oil. In his Truth Social posts, Trump lamented inheriting a war “that should have never happened” and indicated that his Thanksgiving peace deadline was slipping away.
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Behind the scenes, frustration appears to be building. His earlier demand that Zelensky could “fight his little heart out” if he rejected the plan by Thursday shows the pressure he is attempting to exert.
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But despite the rhetoric, US officials in Geneva described parts of the US-Ukraine talks as “productive and even conclusive,” signalling that the door is still open to revisions.
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European Lawmakers Issue a Warning: Do Not Bow to Russia
Perhaps the strongest pushback came from Europe’s political class. Forty-seven lawmakers from across the continent sent a letter warning Trump not to appease Moscow.
They called any attempt to pressure Ukraine “morally reprehensible” and warned that yielding to Russia would “plunge the free world into anarchy and chaos.”
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Their message was blunt:
Russia is waging a “brutal and illegal war.”
The world is watching.
A defeat for Ukraine would embolden authoritarian regimes—especially China.
For Europe, this is more than a regional conflict. It’s a referendum on the future of the global rules-based order.
A Deadly Reminder: Russia’s Worst Strike of 2025
The Geneva talks unfold in the shadow of the year’s deadliest Russian strike—a missile attack that killed 34 civilians, including several children, in the city of Ternopil.
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Images from page 4–5 show:
Rescue teams standing before a collapsed apartment block.
Firefighters holding a minute of silence for the victims.
Heartbreaking funerals for families lost in the blast.
The timing was chilling: the strike occurred the night before Trump announced his peace plan.
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These scenes strengthened European resolve to ensure any agreement leaves Ukraine capable of defending its people.
Zelensky’s Position: Constructive, But Firm
President Zelensky has publicly stated that Ukraine is engaging “as constructively as possible” with the US-led process. But Kyiv’s bottom line has not changed:
No forced territorial concessions.
No limits that cripple Ukraine’s defence.
No deals that reward aggression.
According to Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s national security adviser, the latest US draft includes “most of Ukraine’s key priorities,” but still needs revision.
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Kyiv is signalling openness—but not surrender.
What Happens Next
The clock is ticking. Trump set a Thursday deadline, though even his own statements now suggest that date is flexible. European capitals believe the tide may be turning, and that the US could be persuaded to strengthen its plan in line with Kyiv’s needs.
What’s clear is this:
The Geneva talks are no longer about rubber-stamping a US-Russia draft. Europe has entered the negotiation ring with force, reshaping the debate and challenging any framework that undermines Ukraine’s survival.
A final agreement—if one emerges—will come from a three-way tug-of-war between Washington, Brussels, and Kyiv.
And Russia will be watching every word.
