A Backroom Deal on Ukraine? Why Europe is Furious at the Leaked US-Russia Peace Plan
The Specter of a Backroom Deal
A specter is haunting Europe—and it’s the specter of a backroom deal. A recently leaked Ukraine peace plan, allegedly cooked up by bigwigs in the U.S., has sent European diplomats into a collective tizzy. The proposal, which offers Russia juicy concessions to end the war, could redraw the geopolitical map, and not in a fun way.
The details are still rumor mill material, but the leaks paint a grim picture. The plan reportedly involves a ceasefire that freezes the front lines, letting Russia keep a huge chunk of Ukraine. On top of that, it suggests putting Ukraine’s NATO membership on ice. In exchange, Russia is supposed to pull back some troops, but not from Crimea or the Donbas. It’s like telling a bully they can keep the lunch money they stole and promising not to let their victim join the cool kids’ club.
A Continent’s Fury: “A Stab in the Back”
For many in Europe, this isn’t just about Ukraine; it hits too close to home. The idea of rewarding aggression is seen as a dangerous precedent. European leaders have said on repeat that any real Russia-Ukraine negotiations need Ukraine at the table. To have this plan cooked up without even a courtesy call has been a tough pill to swallow. The strong EU objections reflect a deep-seated fear that this isn’t just a policy disagreement but a betrayal.
The reactions came in fast. French President Emmanuel Macron was reportedly “furious.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed “deep concern,” noting that “nothing about Ukraine should be decided without Ukraine.” But the leaders of the Baltic states and Poland went straight for the jugular, calling the rumored US-Russian peace deal a “stab in the back.”
A Fraying Alliance and a Gift to Moscow
The timing is also terrible. The transatlantic alliance was already tense. Now, the perception that the U.S. is making deals behind Europe’s back pours gasoline on the fire, creating significant US-Europe tensions. It’s a gift-wrapped talking point for Moscow, which has long claimed America is an unreliable partner.
So, who cooked this up? Reports point to a small group of “realist” foreign policy advisors in the U.S. who believe an imperfect deal is better than a forever war that could escalate. They argue for stability over values.
But many in Europe hear “realist” and think it sounds a lot like “appeasement.” They’re having flashbacks to the 20th century, fearing that history is rhyming and the U.S. is underestimating an aggressor’s ambitions.
The Aftermath: A Future Shrouded in Chaos
To be fair, not everyone is lighting torches. Some in the business world are tired of the war’s economic fallout, from high energy prices to supply chain chaos. For them, a messy peace might be better than a noble but bankrupting war.
Even if this proposal ends up in the diplomatic shredder, the damage from the leak is done. It has planted a seed of mistrust between allies, handed Russia a major propaganda win, and made the future for Ukrainian President Zelensky and his country even more uncertain. This mess has kicked over a hornet’s nest, and the buzzing isn’t stopping anytime soon. The geopolitical forecast is cloudy with a high chance of chaos.