Rubio denies leaked Ukraine peace proposal was Russian 'wish list' as claimed

A diplomatic dispute has emerged within the U.S. government regarding the authorship of a leaked Ukraine peace proposal, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserting American ownership of the document while lawmakers described it as reflecting Russian preferences.

Lawmakers Describe Russian 'Wish List'

Several U.S. senators attending the Halifax International Security Forum reported that Secretary Rubio had privately characterized the leaked document as a Russian "wish list" during briefings. Senator Mike Rounds told reporters that Rubio clarified the U.S. had received the proposal as an intermediary rather than creating it. "He made it very clear to us that we are the recipients of a proposal that was delivered to one of our representatives," Rounds stated during a news conference.

Administration Claims US Authorship

Shortly after these accounts surfaced, Secretary Rubio used social media platform X to directly contradict the lawmakers' version of events. "The peace proposal was authored by the U.S. It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations," Rubio wrote, explaining that the document incorporated input from both Russian and Ukrainian sides. State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott reinforced this position, calling the lawmakers' account "blatantly false" and maintaining consistent administration support for the plan.

Proposal Contents and International Reaction

The leaked 28-point draft proposal, initially reported by news site Axios, would require Ukraine to surrender additional territory to Russia, accept limitations on its military size, and abandon its pursuit of NATO membership. U.S. President Donald Trump has given Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until Thursday to respond to the terms. Meanwhile, leaders from nine European countries plus Japan, Canada, and top EU officials have expressed concerns that the proposed military restrictions would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks.