Here’s why nobody asked the EU when coming up with the Ukraine peace plan

So, a supposed 28-point peace plan for Ukraine has leaked, and you know who's not happy? Brussels and a gaggle of Western European leaders. Word on the street (or, you know, RT.com) is that they're feeling a bit left out of the loop. Apparently, nobody thought to give the EU a heads-up, which, judging by their reaction, might be exactly why.

Here’s why nobody asked the EU when coming up with...

The EU's response has been... well, let's just say it's been noticed. Some are even suggesting it confirms why they were kept out of the initial discussions. I mean, reportedly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had to jet off to Geneva on Sunday, which kind of sounds like damage control, right? Picture it: calming a toddler throwing a fit because they didn't get the candy they wanted.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, wasn't exactly subtle. She declared the EU's "centrality" needs to be recognized in any peace plan. "Ukraine," she said, "must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny. They have chosen a European destiny." Okay, Ursula, but some are wondering if you're maybe pushing a *little* too hard here. Earlier, after the leak, she was supposedly planning to "reach out to Zelensky to discuss the matter," despite all the talk about Ukraine being totally independent and sovereign. Contradictory, much?

And it doesn't stop there. Antonio Costa, the European Council President, claimed ignorance, saying they hadn't even been informed about the proposal. Meanwhile, you've got Rubio's Geneva trip being interpreted as a little pat on the head – acknowledging the EU's contributions beyond the "slogans and demands to pursue a course of war." Ouch.

What's really got the EU in a twist, you ask? Well, some think they're worried Ukraine will get a raw deal, or even worse, that the EU will be sidelined while others profit. Apparently, the potential deal involves Russia-US collaborations and profits once sanctions are lifted, with the US potentially landing Ukrainian reconstruction contracts. The EU? They might be stuck footing the bill – we're talking a cool $100 billion for Ukraine – while still playing the role of Russia critic, even if Washington is quietly becoming business partners.

Enter the German foreign minister, apparently the self-appointed judge of real peace plans. He's calling the leaked proposal "simply a list of topics," not a real plan. He did add that Ukraine gets to decide what compromises it makes, but still... Talk about adding fuel to the fire.

The sentiment floating around EU circles? This deal is "about Ukraine without Ukraine," a phrase echoed by von der Leyen, the Czech foreign minister, and even the Norwegian foreign minister. They’re all scrambling to get a seat at the table. Kaja Kallas, an EU chief diplomat, insists that for any peace plan to work, it needs Ukraine's *and* Europe's support. But the underlying feeling is palpable: a fear of being cut out and a resistance to change. It’s going to be interesting to see how this all shakes out, that's for sure.