Penny Wong says Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be upheld amid global backlash to Trump planNEWS | 24 November 2025Foreign minister Penny Wong has warned any peace plan for Ukraine must not hand new territory to Vladimir Putin, amid furious international backlash to Donald Trump’s proposal.
The US president’s plan prompted a furious response from Ukrainians at the weekend, before the country’s European allies released an alternative plan during talks in Geneva. That plan omits some of the pro-Russia provisions included in the original, US-backed document and calls for Kyiv’s sovereignty to be respected.
On Monday, Wong echoed that call and said a resolution to the nearly four-year war was needed.
“We support efforts to achieve a peace deal that ends Russia’s illegal and immoral war and safeguards security and stability in Europe,” she said.
“A lasting peace should uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, support security and stability in Europe, and ensure Russia does not renew its aggression.”
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Trump had initially given Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, until Thursday to sign his plan. It calls on Kyiv to give up territory it currently controls to Russia, reduce the size of its army and relinquish long-range weapons. It also rules out a European peacekeeping force and sanctions for Russian war crimes.
As discussions began in Geneva, Trump lashed Ukraine for showing “zero gratitude” for US help in the conflict, prompting a conciliatory response from Zelenskyy.
In Australia, the leading Ukrainian community body said it unequivocally rejected the Trump proposal. The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations chair, Kateryna Argyrou, said the plan rewards aggression, put pressure on Ukraine to surrender its sovereignty, and set a dangerous precedent for the Indo-Pacific region.
“This shameful ‘deal’ is not a solution – it is a dangerous capitulation to tyranny and aggression,” Argyrou said.
“It would reward Putin by ceding territory not even occupied, lifting all sanctions, returning the majority of frozen Russian assets, and offering no reparations for war crimes committed by Russian forces.
“It would betray Ukraine’s sovereignty by demanding Ukraine relinquish territory, halve its military, abandon its Nato aspirations, and ban international peacekeepers.”
Argyrou called on the Albanese government to join allies rejecting Trump’s plans, including the UK, Germany, France, Japan and Canada. Those countries warned Ukraine’s borders must not be changed by force from Russia.
Trump subsequently said the plan was “not my final offer”, opening the door to significant changes.
“We’d like to get to peace. It should’ve happened a long time ago,” he said at the White House. “We’re trying to get it ended, one way or the other we have to get it ended.”
The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said the weekend talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators had been “probably the best … so far”.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, said more targeted sanctions against Russia were needed, along with frozen Russian assets being transferred to Kyiv for the war effort.
“You can see any concession to Russia, they perceive it as a weakness and then will jump on it.”
He said the Geneva meetings at the weekend had been productive.
“There are some very important red lines for Ukraine, for the European allies as well, and we are working together, along with everybody involved. Definitely it’s too earlyto predict.
“At the end of the day, we are out there defending democracy and fighting for our own survival. We need the support of our allies. We need the support of Australia, for which we are thankful for every assistance that we can get.”Author: Tom Mcilroy. Source
