Senior officials from the U.S. and Ukraine have made significant strides towards a potential agreement concerning Washington's proposed peace plan, as confirmed by officials from both nations. This development comes amidst heightened diplomatic efforts following Axios's recent report on the negotiations.
The urgency of these discussions is underscored by President Trump's Thanksgiving deadline for reaching an understanding with Ukraine. Trump's comprehensive 28-point peace plan mandates that Kyiv concede additional territory in the eastern regions, commit to never joining NATO, and grant full amnesty to Russians accused of war crimes. However, the plan also presents an unprecedented security guarantee from both the U.S. and Europe, akin to NATO's Article 5, which would obligate allies to regard an attack on Ukraine as an attack on the entire transatlantic community.
Driving the negotiations in Geneva are prominent figures including Secretary of State Rubio, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and adviser. Since Sunday morning, they have been engaging with Ukraine's delegation at the U.S. mission. Following several hours of dialogue, Rubio and Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, shared statements indicating satisfaction with the progress made. Rubio noted, “We have had probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far,” while Yermak echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the session's productivity.
Looking ahead, both Rubio and Yermak confirmed that discussions will continue in Geneva on Sunday. They emphasized that ultimate decisions will rest with President Trump and President Zelensky. However, behind the scenes, tensions arose during an earlier meeting, where U.S. representatives accused their Ukrainian counterparts of leaking unfavorable details about the peace plan to the media. In an effort to mend relations, the Ukrainians agreed to release a positive statement about the negotiations. Subsequently, the Ukrainian side presented a counterproposal, suggesting amendments to Trump's plan, with sources indicating that the U.S. is open to considering these changes.
As the discussions unfolded, President Trump took to his Truth Social account to express frustration with the Ukrainian leadership, claiming they displayed a lack of gratitude for U.S. efforts to resolve the conflict. He stated, "I INHERITED A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, A WAR THAT IS A LOSER FOR EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SO NEEDLESSLY DIED." Trump further criticized the Ukrainian leadership for not acknowledging U.S. support while Europe continues to purchase oil from Russia.
In response, President Zelensky addressed the ongoing negotiations through a post on his X account, stating that the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva remains focused on achieving feasible solutions to end the war. He indicated that the American proposals could integrate elements that align with Ukrainian perspectives and are crucial for the nation’s interests. Further work is necessary to ensure that all components of the deal are effective and beneficial.