nternational negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine advanced in Geneva on Sunday, with discussions centering on a US-drafted peace plan that aligns with several key Russian security interests and has been acknowledged by President Vladimir Putin as a potential foundation for a final settlement.
The 28-point draft plan, championed by US President Donald Trump, was developed through direct discussions between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart, Kirill Dmitriev. The Russian side has expressed optimism about this process, with Dmitriev noting that unlike past efforts, "we feel the Russian position is really being heard". The plan's provisions would see Ukraine constitutionally renounce future NATO membership, accept limits on the size of its armed forces, and cede territory in the Donbas region it currently controls. President Putin has confirmed Russia received the plan and stated it could "lay the foundation for a final peace settlement," while also warning that further Russian military advances were inevitable if the proposal was rejected.
The hastily convened Geneva talks brought together US, Ukrainian, and European officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the American delegation and hailed the meetings as "probably the most productive and meaningful meeting" since the administration took office. He confirmed that changes would be made to the original draft to reach a solution comfortable for both the US and Ukraine.
However, the process has been marked by significant resistance from European allies, who were not consulted in the initial drafting. European powers, including France, Germany, and the UK, submitted a revised version of the plan that challenges the proposed limits on Ukraine's military and the territorial concessions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asserted that borders cannot be changed by force and that limiting Ukraine's army would leave it vulnerable to future attack. The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, expressed skepticism that a deal could be reached by President Trump's Thursday deadline.
The diplomatic push comes at a critical time. President Trump has publicly criticized Ukraine's leadership for showing "zero gratitude" for American efforts, adding pressure on Kyiv to engage constructively with the proposal. While Ukraine's President Zelensky has expressed gratitude for US support, he has also firmly stated that the war was started "by Russia, and only Russia".
Concurrently, other diplomatic channels are active. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced he would speak with President Putin on Monday to discuss peace efforts and the revival of the Black Sea grain deal, with outcomes to be shared with Western allies.