Today is the first official meeting between representatives of Europe, the United States and Ukraine regarding the peace plan proposed by Donald Trump. The talks are taking place amid heightened tensions, with Kiev still expressing major reservations about the 28-point document.
Ukraine and the US will negotiate in Switzerland the peace plan proposed by Trump PHOTO: Profimedia
The proposed text forces, in the view of the Ukrainians, territorial concessions, the abandonment of NATO aspirations and even the withdrawal from areas that Russia does not control. Although Trump initially demanded that Ukraine accept the plan by Thursday, on Thanksgiving Day, the American president later said that this would not be the final option, reports CNN.
“We would like to get peace. It should have happened a long time ago. The war in Ukraine with Russia should not have happened“, said Donald Trump.
Who is participating in the Geneva talks?
Today's meeting will take place between the delegation of Ukraine and the United States. Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, the directors of the intelligence services and the chairman of the Security Council are participating from Kyiv. The US is represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. National security advisors from France, Germany, Great Britain and, according to diplomatic sources, also from Italy are also present at the talks.
“Our representatives know how to protect Ukrainian national interests and exactly what is needed to prevent Russia from committing a third invasion”Volodymyr Zelensky said before the meeting.
Europe asks to be consulted
On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, European leaders welcomed Trump's peace initiative but insisted that final decisions must be taken together.
“Our only problem for all of us is Russia who started this war, who refused to accept the ceasefire proposals of February, March, July, August, etc.“, said the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.
“It is a war that cannot be ended never without Ukraine's consent and of Europe, because it is a war on the European continent. Depending on the outcome of this war, it will have an impact on the security of Europe”said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
American pressures and a possible European counterproposal
The United States has told NATO allies that if Volodymyr Zelensky does not sign the deal, Ukraine risks more severe consequences in the future.
Next week, a group of European leaders, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Giorgia Meloni, could go to Washington to present the US president with a counter-proposal to the 28-point plan.
