US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reaffirmed that the contentious peace proposal presented to Ukraine was drafted by the United States, countering remarks from a Republican counterpart who labeled it as a “Russian wish list.” The leaked 28-point plan aimed at halting Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine caused concern in Kyiv and European centers earlier this week.

Further apprehension arose on Saturday when a group of American legislators disputed the authenticity of the document as reflecting the official stance of the US government. Republican Senator Mike Rounds, speaking at a security conference in Canada, emphasized that the US did not endorse the leaked plan as it stood.

Rounds clarified that the proposal, which he described as resembling a Russian-authored document, was received as a suggestion, not a recommendation from the US. He revealed that Rubio had personally informed them of this fact during a phone call on Saturday.

In response to the controversy, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott issued a statement refuting Rounds’ version of events, labeling it as “blatantly false.” Pigott emphasized that the peace plan was indeed authored by the United States with inputs from both Russian and Ukrainian sources.

Taking to Twitter, Rubio reiterated that the peace blueprint was crafted by the US and involved contributions from both Russian and Ukrainian parties. He clarified that the document served as a robust framework for ongoing negotiations, incorporating feedback from all relevant stakeholders.

The confusion surrounding the draft peace agreement coincides with crucial discussions on Ukraine at the G20 summit in South Africa, where international leaders, excluding Donald Trump, expressed reservations about certain aspects of the US President’s peace initiative. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the dilemma facing his country, emphasizing the need to balance safeguarding sovereignty with securing essential US support.