LONDON

Nine European Union countries plus Britain, Canada, and Japan on Saturday voiced concern over proposed limitations on Ukraine's army in a proposed US peace plan, saying the draft will require "additional work."

In a joint statement on Ukraine on the sidelines of a G20 summit, the leaders welcomed US efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, saying the initial draft of the 28-point plan "includes important elements" that will be essential for a just and lasting peace.

However, the leaders of Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Canada, and Japan as well as the presidents of the European Council and European Commissions underlined that the draft "will require additional work."

"We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack," said the statement.

The leaders also reiterated that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and NATO "would need the consent” of their member states.

The peace plan draft in question appears to require Ukraine to surrender additional territory to Russia, limit the size of its military, and formally abandon its bid to join NATO. President Donald Trump has given his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy until Thursday, Nov. 27 to respond.

Zelenskyy said he faces a tough choice, the "loss of our dignity or the risk of losing a key partner."

Russia started its "special military operation" in February 2022 for what it called the "denazification" and demilitarization of Ukraine. Besides limits on the Ukrainian military and barring NATO membership, Moscow wants the Russian language to enjoy official status in Ukraine.