Prime Minister Mark Carney, together with over a dozen global leaders gathered in South Africa, released a joint statement on Saturday expressing that further efforts are needed for U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
The leaders convened on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg to discuss Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s caution that his nation is undergoing one of its most challenging periods. Zelenskyy faces a deadline set by Trump to either accept or reject his peace plan, which is perceived as favoring Russia, by Nov. 27.
The joint statement by the leaders emphasized the stance that territorial boundaries should not be altered by force and raised concerns regarding the proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s military capabilities, which could leave the country susceptible to future attacks.
Trump’s 28-point proposal requires Kyiv to relinquish territory, agree to military size constraints, and abandon aspirations to join NATO, fulfilling long-standing demands from the Kremlin. The plan also includes provisions that Russia may find unfavorable, such as withdrawing its troops from certain captured areas in Ukraine.
In a video address to the nation, Zelenskyy remarked that Trump’s recent actions are exerting significant pressure on Ukraine, presenting the country with a difficult decision that involves compromising its dignity or risking the loss of a key ally.
Canada, the European Council, the European Commission, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Finland, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and Ireland were all present at the meeting.
Trump clarified that his current peace proposal for Ukraine is not final and stressed the need to end the conflict. Global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw, attending the G20 summit, criticized Trump’s plan, labeling it as detrimental to Ukraine and predicting dire consequences if any Ukrainian leader were to accept it.
Carney affirmed online that certain aspects of Trump’s plan are constructive and pledged to collaborate closely with Ukraine and the U.S. in the days ahead. He acknowledged the importance of elements within the 28-point plan for achieving a just and lasting peace.
Additionally, Carney engaged in bilateral discussions with the leaders of France, Norway, the European Union, Germany, and the U.K. to pursue a fair and enduring resolution in Ukraine. These nations are part of the Coalition of the Willing, a coalition supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
The host country of the G20, South Africa, prohibited foreign media from filming the one-on-one interactions between world leaders, preventing Canadian media from capturing footage, a departure from the usual practice at such international summits.
Trump asserted his confidence in the efficacy of his peace plan on Friday, suggesting that Zelenskyy must accept it, or else the conflict would persist. Russian President Vladimir Putin viewed the U.S. proposal as a potential foundation for a final peace settlement and indicated a willingness to demonstrate flexibility as discussed during a previous meeting with Trump.
However, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a founding member of the Coalition of the Willing, criticized Russia for failing to honor its commitments for peace. Starmer accused Russia of escalating hostilities by deploying drones and missiles that harm civilians and disrupt livelihoods.
Leaders at the G20 adopted a declaration addressing climate change and other global issues on Saturday, prompting criticism from a White House official for drafting the statement without U.S. input.