Fresh talks on the future of the war in Ukraine are under way – with delegations from the US, Ukraine, and its European allies holding discussions in Geneva
Ukraine's President Zelensky says "diplomacy has been activated", and he hopes meetings will be constructive
A US official tells the BBC discussions are about ironing out the details of the agreement
The talks come after Western leaders criticised a 28-point peace plan, pushed by US President Donald Trump, which is widely considered favourable to Russia – here's what is included in that proposal
That plan was met with dismay in Ukraine, writes our correspondent Sarah Rainsford
The US insists it authored the proposal, after US senators claimed Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as a Russian "wish list"
Rubio says the proposal was "based on input from the Russian side", but with "previous and ongoing input from Ukraine". Trump says it doesn't represent a "final offer"
Edited by Alex Smith and Rorey Bosotti
Sophie Williams
BBC News
As we've just been reporting, a US official tells the BBC that there is a lot of momentum right now regarding the talks in Geneva.
They say the US and Ukraine are optimistic, adding that today's discussions are about ironing out the details of the agreement – including some difficult points.
The meetings this morning were mostly unilateral. Later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's overseas diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff will sit down with the negotiation team for a higher level meeting – and then go into talks with smaller groups.
The official says that with each step they are getting closer to ironing out a final deal. They acknowledge that there are hard things to sort out, but said they will be sorted. 
Sarah Rainsford
Eastern Europe correspondent, reporting from Geneva
The meetings began over dinner last night and will continue all day in a variety of formats – but all behind closed doors.
Andriy Yermak, a Ukrainian official, says the mood is constructive. And a US official tells the BBC there’s optimism – and momentum, as he put it.
But what’s on the table is a 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine that reflects Russia’s key demands. Everything from Ukraine abandoning hard-defended land, to a ban on joining Nato.
And US President Donald Trump has given Kyiv until Thursday to sign up.
Met with dismay in Ukraine, the deal’s controversial even in the US – where Secretary of State Marco Rubio had to confirm that this is in fact a US proposal, and not one written by the Kremlin.
Rubio is here today, as are officials from the European Union and UK anxious to ensure that if this is a starting point for a lasting peace deal – a big if – then Ukraine’s voice, and those of all its allies, must be heard.
On the front line, Ukrainian army unit commander Vitalii Traikalo says Russia cannot be trusted. "They only talk nicely, but it's meaningless", he says.
Speaking to the news agency Reuters, Traikalo asks: "Why are we fighting then? If they (Russia) want us to give up everything?"
Under the current proposed peace plan, which US President Donald Trump is pushing for Ukraine to accept, Ukraine would be made to concede territory.
"Are we defending our borders here just to give them away? What's the point of all this, of all these sacrifices?" Traikalo asks.
On military strategy, Traikalo says the main targets for the Ukrainian army are Russia's drone operators. "Drones are a nightmare for us," he adds.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen says any "credible" peace plan needs to "stop the killing" while also "not sowing the seeds for a future conflict".
In a statement, she highlights three key elements that the Commission wants included:
She also makes a plea for "the return of each and every Ukrainian child abducted by Russia", saying "tens of thousands of boys and girls remain trapped" in the country.
As a reminder, US President Donald Trump has given Ukraine until Thursday to agree to the US's 28-point plan – but he's said that it doesn't represent a "final offer", and deadlines could be extended if things were "going well".
He called the 27 November deadline – which is Thanksgiving in the US – "appropriate".
There's also a widely-reported threat from the US to cut off intelligence and weapons support to Kyiv, if it did not respond by the deadline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says it's good that "diplomacy has been activated" in Geneva and he hopes the conversation there can be constructive.
As we've been reporting, Zelensky's head of staff Andriy Yermak says the first meeting – with European delegates – has finished, calling it "very constructive".
In a post on Telegram, Zelensky says he is hopeful the meetings taking place, including the upcoming talks with the US delegation, will provide a result to move an end to the war closer.
"We all need a positive result," he concludes.
We have just had word that the talks on Ukraine in Geneva have begun – here's a recap of what's happened so far today:
The Ukrainian delegation has held talks with European security advisers in Geneva, the head of President Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak, says.
Yermak confirms the first meeting included advisers from the UK, France and Germany – Jonathan Powell, Emmanuel Bonne and Günter Sautter.
The next meeting will be with the US delegation, he says.
"We are very constructive. In general, a series of meetings in various formats are planned for today. We continue to work together to achieve a sustainable and just peace for Ukraine."
As a reminder, these talks are taking place behind closed doors, we'll bring you the latest as soon as we get it.
Ukraine's Western allies have already publicly pushed back against the plan.
In a joint statement issued at the G20 summit in South Africa yesterday, they said it "would leave Ukraine vulnerable to attack".
The proposal, the statement said, had elements "essential for a just and lasting peace" but would "require additional work" – citing concerns over border changes and caps on Ukraine's army.
The statement was signed by the leaders of Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Germany and Norway. Two senior EU officials were also among the signatories.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the plan "cannot simply be an American proposal", adding that any agreement had to also guarantee security for "all Europeans".
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said "we are still quite a long way from a good outcome for everyone".
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his country's position – and that of other Western allies – that the 28-point plan needs more work, has been communicated to President Trump.
"Each of us do not need to call President Trump and communicate that position," he tells reporters on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Johannesburg.
"The follow-up is being done by our national security advisers. I will be speaking with President Zelenskiy later today, just to close the loop on some aspects of that."
On the plan, he says: "We like point number one, Ukraine as a sovereign nation, that is a good start."
As we've been reporting, officials from the US, Ukraine, and its allies are gathering in Geneva for fresh talks on the war. Here's who we know is attending.
We also believe that officials from France and Germany will be in attendance.
Rubio and Witkoff during a summit in Paris in April
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says "in parallel with the diplomatic track" of today's talks in Geneva, "we must do everything to strengthen our defense" against "vile Russian attacks".
The message comes as he announced the end of a rescue mission in Ternopil, western Ukraine, where a Russian attack on a residential building killed 33 people and left six people missing.
"Throughout the week, these attacks have not subsided: more than 1,050 strike drones, almost 1,000 guided bombs and more than 60 missiles of various types have been used," Zelensky writes in a post on social media.
"It is very important to accelerate the implementation of all our agreements with partners on air defense systems and missiles," he adds.
"Thank you to everyone who helps protect lives. Thank you to everyone who works for peace."
As world leaders grapple with how to bring about peace in Ukraine, the war rages on.
Earlier this week, 33 people were killed including six children in a Russian missile and drone attack that hit two blocks of flats in the western city of Ternopil.
And overnight, both sides have reported damage from strikes – Russia says Kyiv struck a power plant in the Moscow region while the regional head of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region reports strikes on residential buildings.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
It currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, and Russian troops have been making slow advances along the vast front line, despite reported heavy losses.
Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian front-line, robots have become a lifeline to troops trapped on the eastern front, our reporter writes from the conflict zone.
Tom Bateman
US State Department correspondent
A group of US senators say they were told by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the 28-point peace plan for Ukraine is not an American proposal – that it represents the Russian position and was leaked by a representative for Moscow.
The three senators say they spoke to Rubio on the phone on his way to Geneva, having asked him to clarify how the 28-point peace plan emerged.
One of them, Republican Mike Rounds, who sits on the Senate intelligence committee, said they were concerned the leaked document looked Russian in nature – even including the way it had been written.
The senators say Rubio told them it was not in fact an American proposal, but a Russian plan, leaked by the Russian side, and the Ukrainians would be able to respond to it and negotiate.
This contradicts the position of the White House, which said this week the plan was endorsed by President Donald Trump, having been drawn up by his officials.
The senators also said Rubio was not aware of the widely reported US threat to cut off intelligence and weapons support to Kyiv, if it did not respond by a deadline of next Thursday.
The senators’ revelations hint at a growing sense of dysfunction within the administration over the peace plan, which has left European leaders scrambling to shore up Kyiv’s position – in what many have interpreted as Trump pivoting heavily towards Moscow with an ultimatum for Ukraine.
After the senators’ comments, the State Department spokesman called reports that it was not an American plan “blatantly false”. Rubio posted on social media to say the plan was authored by the US “based on input from the Russian side”, but with “previous and ongoing input from Ukraine”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has landed in Geneva, ahead of talks on the war in Ukraine.
Chris Mason
Political editor, reporting from the G20 in Johannesburg
The brash, status quo smashing diplomacy of President Trump has met with the equally in character caution of European allies and others.
Yesterday afternoon, nine European countries – including the UK – as well as Japan, Canada and the European Union publicly expressed their unease with the US plan.
They said it was an “initial draft” that will “require additional work.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it had "a number of important elements", but there was "more to do".
The French President Emmanuel Macron said “we need something which is good for Ukrainians".
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said “war can only be ended if Ukraine gives its unreserved consent.”
Later, while still in Johannesburg, the prime minister made back-to-back calls – firstly to Ukraine's President Zelensky, then President Trump.
The UK’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell left Johannesburg early to travel to Geneva in Switzerland – where his equivalents from across Europe will join American and Ukrainian officials for talks later today.
Another call between Starmer and Trump is expected too.
This video can not be played
Watch: Trump says Ukraine proposal is not his final offer
The US
President Trump has said the plan does not represent a "final offer" for Ukraine, having previously said President Volodymyr Zelensky "will have to" approve it.
Ukraine
When details of the plan first emerged, Zelensky warned that his country faced "one of the most difficult moments in our history" over US pressure to accept it.
On Saturday, Zelensky announced that the head of his office, Andriy Yermak, would lead Ukraine's negotiating team for future talks on a peace deal – including any that may involve Russia.
In Kyiv, the widow of a Ukrainian soldier told the BBC: "This is not a peace plan, it is a plan to continue the war."
Ukraine's allies
In a joint statement issued at the G20 summit in South Africa yesterday, a number of Ukraine's Western allies said the proposal "would leave Ukraine vulnerable to attack".
Russia
When the plan was leaked, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it could form the "basis" of an agreement.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "We are seeing some new elements, but officially we haven't received anything. There has been no substantive discussion of those points."
The draft US-Russia peace plan has been widely leaked. Here's what else we know about what's included:
Read more: What we know about leaked US draft plan to end Russia's Ukraine war.
Matt Spivey
Live reporter
Delegations from the US, Ukraine and its European allies will convene in Geneva this morning for fresh talks on the Ukraine war.
It comes after US President Donald Trump proposed a 28-point plan to end the war, which Russian President Vladimir Putin said could form the basis of an agreement.
As it stands, the plan would include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from parts of eastern Ukraine and the freezing of borders on the country's southern battle lines.
Ukrainian President Zelensky warned his country faced "one of the most difficult moments in our history", as Trump has applied pressure on him to accept the deal.
In a joint statement issued at the G20 summit in South Africa on Saturday, Ukraine's allies publicly pushed back against the plan.
They voiced concern it "would leave Ukraine vulnerable to attack" and would "require additional work".
Overnight, Ukraine struck a major power station in Russia's Moscow region which triggered a fire, according to Moscow's regional governor.
Meanwhile, the regional head of Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region said 894 Russian strikes damaged buildings and infrastructure in the past 24-hours.
We'll be closing monitoring the summit in Geneva and the situation in Ukraine throughout the day, stay with us.
Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.