US and Russia Hold Secret Diplomatic Meeting at G20 Over Peace Plan; Ukraine Says It Was Unaware

US and Russia Hold Secret Diplomatic Meeting at G20 Over Peace Plan; Ukraine Says It Was Unaware

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Asheville, North Carolina, to discuss a 28-point peace plan for the conflict in Ukraine. The unannounced meeting marks the Russian minister's first in-person attendance at the event since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, as reported by Fox Business.

A Ukrainian government official confirmed to The Kyiv Independent that Kyiv had no prior knowledge of the side meeting between U.S. and Russian officials.

Key Negotiation Stumbling Blocks:

Original Proposal: The 28-point plan, brokered by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian Envoy Kirill Dmitriev, imposed punishing demands on Ukraine and was widely interpreted by diplomats as a demand for surrender.

Rejected Revision: After Western talks revised the text down to 20 points, the Kremlin rejected the changes, bringing negotiations to a deadlock.

 

Territorial Demands: Recent proposals from President Volodymyr Zelensky involving a ceasefire and a "free economic zone" in Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts) were also rejected by Moscow, which demands the complete cession of the region.

The meeting comes amid a series of unannounced high-level contacts between Washington and Moscow, including a recent visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to the Russian capital on August 25.

About the Sources:

The reported information was gathered by journalists Martin Fornusek and Tim Zadorozhnyy for The Kyiv Independent, utilizing original reporting from Fox Business and official statements from Kyiv government officials.