The first information about the US-Ukraine-Europe talks in Geneva / Two positive signals from Zelensky and the leader of the Ukrainian delegation
Delegations from the US, Europe and Ukraine gathered in Geneva on Sunday to discuss the draft plan to end the war proposed by the Americans after Kiev and its allies expressed concern about what they saw as major concessions to the aggressor Russia.
A US official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that there had also been positive and constructive talks between US and Ukrainian officials ahead of the meeting in Switzerland.
He said coordination meetings were held on Sunday morning before talks actually began in Geneva, where several convoys of diplomatic cars were seen on the streets.
The Reuters source added that there will be a full day of talks in various formats between US and Ukrainian officials.
Zelensky: “It's good that diplomacy has been relaunched”
The head of the Ukrainian delegation sent by Zelenski, Andrii Iermak, said that “we had the first meeting with the national security advisers of the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Germany: Jonathan Powell, Emmanuel Bonne and Günther Sauter.”
“The next meeting is with the US delegation. We are in a very constructive mood. Overall, a series of meetings in various formats are planned for today. We continue to work together to achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine,” Zelenskiy's chief of staff added in a post on X.
The Ukrainian president also announced on the social network that the meetings are ongoing in Switzerland, stressing that “it is good that diplomacy has been relaunched and that the discussions can be constructive”
“The Ukrainian and American teams, as well as the teams of our European partners, are in close contact and I hope they will achieve results. The bloodshed must be stopped and we must make sure that the war does not break out again. I await the results of today's talks and hope that all participants will be constructive. We all need a positive result,” Zelenskiy said.
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“We hope for an advantageous agreement for Ukraine”
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived on Sunday for talks on stopping the Russian invasion.
“We hope to work out the last details … to draft a favorable agreement for them (Ukraine),” said a US representative.
“Nothing will be agreed until the two presidents meet,” he said, referring to Trump and Zelenskiy.
Trump has left room for negotiation on his plan
On Friday, US President Donald Trump said Volodymyr Zelenskiy had until Thursday to approve the 28-point plan, which calls for Ukraine to cede territory, accept limitations on its military and abandon ambitions to join NATO.
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For many Ukrainians, including soldiers fighting on the front lines, such conditions would amount to surrender after nearly four years of fighting in Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II.
Since the plan was announced, there has been considerable confusion about who was involved in its development. European allies said they were not consulted.
Before Rubio left for Geneva, Trump said his current proposal to end the war was not his final offer.
The great European powers are also involved
US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll is also in Geneva for the talks, while Ukraine's delegation, which includes many senior military and intelligence officials, is led by Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andrii Iermak.
National security advisers from the E3 alliance of France, Britain and Germany also came, plus officials. European union. Italy also sent an official.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would talk to Zelenski later on Sunday about the peace plan.
European and other Western leaders said on Saturday that the US peace plan, which backs key Russian demands, is a basis for talks on ending the war, but that “further efforts” are needed as they seek a better deal for Kiev ahead of a Thursday deadline.
A German government source said a draft European peace plan, based on the US proposal, had been sent to Ukraine and the US administration.
The US plan for Ukraine needs “further work”, 11 leaders, mostly European, said in a joint statement on Saturday after a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa.
“A very difficult choice”
The 28-point Ukraine peace plan devised by the U.S. in collaboration with Russia requires Kiev to give up territories it still controls in the east of the country, limit the size of its military and agree never to join NATO, according to a draft obtained by Axios and verified by a Ukrainian official, a U.S. official and a source familiar with the proposal.
In a stark message to Ukrainians on Friday, Zelensky said the country “is facing a very difficult choice. It is one of the most difficult moments in our history.” The Kiev leader's signal came as Ukraine is being pressured by Donald Trump's administration to accept the peace plan negotiated by the United States with Russia.
Trump then confirmed that he had given Ukraine an ultimatum to accept his peace plan by next Thursday: “They're going to have to like it.”
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he accepted the peace plan proposed by Trump, threatening Ukraine and claiming that it and its European allies are “still deluding themselves”.
