Expert warns Ukraine faces loss of U.S. support if Geneva talks stall

Former NORAD director of operations Retired Maj.-Gen. Scott Clancy weighs in on some of the issues in the U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace plan.

Ukrainian envoys met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Geneva on Sunday to review a proposed peace plan. But one expert says Rubio gave no indication he would support major changes.

• Ukraine and Western allies meet in Geneva to discuss U.S. peace plan

Retd. Maj.-Gen. Scott Clancy, the former director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told CTV News Channel Sunday that the U.S. is not going to publicly state what “territorial concessions” are being made by Russia.

“The U.S. and Russia, but especially the U.S., have placed Ukraine into a little box with this 28-point peace plan. Either agree to it or we’re not going to be your partner anymore,” he said. “Which is why President Zelensky said what he said – that they have to choose between a loss of dignity the loss of a partner.”

Clancy added that Ukraine could “absolutely” risk the loss of U.S. support if Sunday’s talks don’t go well.

“That’s why I think that Ukraine is being very cautious with their language, and they’re saying that we’re going to work on each portion of the plan,” he said.

Clancy noted the importance of “territorial integrity” and “security guarantees” in this proposed peace plan are questionable, saying that the primary goal for Ukraine at this moment is to end the fighting.

“We can’t underestimate how much just stopping the fighting means to them, but the question is going to be how they manage that going forward,” he said. “I think they’re going to use solid diplomatic terms and negotiations here and be committed to the long-term peace process.”

According to Clancy, if Ukraine loses U.S. support it could lead to a much larger issue.

“I think that we’re at a watershed moment here with respect to not just the Western powers in the United States, but NATO as a whole,” he said. “We’re either going to have to go all in on Ukraine and defend it as Western allies, or we’re going to have to watch it come under the control and the sphere of Russia.”

Clancy also said he believes the peace accord is an indication from the U.S. that they’re not “willing to go to war over Ukraine.”

Rubio told reporters after the meeting that the first session of talks was “probably the most productive and meaningful meeting” since the establishment of the Trump administration.

Both delegations have agreed to meet again Sunday night, he added. However, the final peace plan will have to be approved by Russia.

Presidential Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak, who is heading the Ukrainian delegation, also confirmed that the initial session of talks had concluded and a second meeting would take place.

Prior to the meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump slammed Ukraine in a post on social media for showing “zero gratitude” for U.S. military assistance.

With files from the Associated Press