Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that a proposed plan to end the Ukraine war, which has been widely viewed as favourable to Russia, was authored by the US.
It comes after a group of senators said they had been told by Rubio that the draft - which one described as a Russian wish list - did not reflect Washington's position.
Rubio later distanced himself from those claims and said the plan was authored by the US and based on input from both Russia and Ukraine.
His intervention came as he flew to Geneva in Switzerland for talks with Ukrainian and European security officials on the plan, which US President Donald Trump has called for Kyiv to agree to swiftly.
Ukraine's allies in Europe have pushed back on major provisions in the draft, which has not been made public but details of which have been widely leaked. It includes Ukraine agreeing to withdraw troops from eastern areas which Russia has been unable to take by force, and to limit the size of its armed forces.
On Saturday, Republican senator Mike Rounds said Rubio had told a group of lawmakers that the draft plan was not US policy.
Speaking at the Halifax Security Forum, he said: What [Rubio] told us was that this was not the American proposal.
Rounds said he had been assured that the plan was presented to Steve Witkoff, who acts as Trump's overseas diplomatic envoy, by someone... representing Russia. The senator continued: It is not our recommendation. It is not our peace plan.
Shortly after, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rounds's account of his conversation with Rubio was blatantly false.
Writing on social media, he emphasized that the plan was indeed authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians.
Rubio echoed this sentiment, stating that the peace proposal was based on insights from both sides.
Trump recently noted that the proposal is not a final offer for Ukraine, underscoring that it needed Ukrainian approval.
When details of the 28-point plan first emerged, Zelensky warned that his country faced one of the most difficult moments in our history amid US pressure to accept it.
The leaders of several Ukrainian allies, including Canada, France, and Germany, met recently at the G20 summit where concerns regarding Ukraine's security were voiced.
In response to the plan's demands, European allies released a joint statement addressing elements that could leave Ukraine vulnerable to attacks.
It stated that while some components are essential for peace, significant revisions are necessary to safeguard Ukraine's interests. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted that any agreement needed to ensure security for all Europeans.
Despite the pressure, Ukraine remains firm, preparing to lead its negotiation team with a clear mandate to protect its national interests vigorously.
