US and Ukrainian officials say they have held a "productive" meeting as part of talks finalise a peace deal
In Geneva, the talks are ongoing between delegations from the US, Ukraine, and its European allies
Earlier, US President Donald Trump says Ukraine's leaders have shown "zero gratitude" over US efforts to end the war
It came after Ukraine's President Zelensky said there was an understanding that a US-proposed peace plan could take into account Ukraine's national interests
Trump has called Ukraine ungrateful before, but ever since their White House showdown Zelensky has gone to great lengths to say "thank you", writes our North America correspondent
European leaders have criticised the 28-point plan, which is widely considered favourable to Russia – here's what is included in the proposal
Edited by Rorey Bosotti and Jemma Crew
We are now hearing from Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak.
He says the meeting has been very productive, and adds that things are moving towards a "just and lasting peace".
He expresses gratitude towards the US, extending his personal thanks towards President Trump.
He says delegates will be working today and over the coming days on a joint proposal with the US and European allies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio enters the room with Zelensky's right-hand man, Andriy Yermak.
Rubio says they will come back in around one or two hours so he will not take questions now.
But he says he wants to provide an update.
"We've had probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far in this entire process," he says.
Rubio says they have a "product" built on a "foundation of input" from all the parties involved and they have "made good progress" going through the points it contains.
They are now going through "some of the suggestions that were proffered to us" and making some "changes" and adjustments to get closer to something both Ukraine and the US are comfortable with, he says.
He says there is also the Russian side of the equation, but they think they have some "pretty substantial insights" into what is important to them.
"There is still some work left to do," he says.
Imogen Foulkes
Reporting from Geneva
We‘ve been summoned to the US mission for what Washington calls a ‘gaggle'. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine’s chief negotiator Andriy Yermuk will speak to us in a few minutes.
Statements only we are told, no questions, very frustrating for journalists who have been here all day.
The Europeans, who sent their own top negotiators to Geneva too, are not here. It is unclear what role they have played today.
We can now bring you pictures from inside the US Mission in Geneva, where the US and Ukrainian delegations have been holding talks.
The images show Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the US side.
Zelensky's right-hand man, Andriy Yermak, is among those on the Ukrainian side.
The delegates meeting in the US Mission in Geneva
Jared Kushner seated on the left, with Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both seated on the right
The head of Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak, seated in the centre of the Ukrainian delegation
A short while ago, President Zelensky said on X he's had a joint conversation with the prime ministers of Croatia and Luxembourg and has informed them of "our diplomatic work on the American proposal and the meetings in Geneva".
"We are counting on an outcome that will pave the way to a real and lasting peace," he says.
He adds he is "grateful to every leader and to everyone around the world who supports Ukraine and our principled stances".
Sean Dilley
North America Correspondent
President Trump had apparently warmed to President Zelensky in recent months, even once complimenting his clothing and appearance – but things move very fast in Trump's White House.
The fact that the US president again blames weak leadership in Ukraine, and by his predecessor Joe Biden, speaks to his personal investment in delivering on his promise to end the war if elected.
On the face of Trump's post, it may feel like things have gone backwards but, in truth, it's his Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff who are in the room with European and Ukrainian negotiators.
Any deal will practically have to have Trump's blessing because of the security guarantee needed for any peace plan to work, but US officials stress today is about ironing out details.
Around 20 minutes after Trump's comments, Ukraine's top security official Rustem Umerov wrote on Telegram: "We appreciate our American partners working closely with us to understand our concerns to reach this critical point and we expect to make more progress today."
For now, Trump joins the rest of the world, waiting to see what progress is made in Geneva.Sean Dilley
North America Correspondent
It all seemed to be going so well – at least from the US president's perspective.
A deal had been drafted, a deadline set.
But the intervention of European leaders, and a letter signed by them as well as Canada and Japan expressing concerns about the 28-point deal, seems to have shaken things up.
The most important line in President Trump's Truth Social post is where he hits out at President Zelensky saying: "UKRAINE 'LEADERSHIP' HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS".
It's a familiar claim but it's actually not true.
Zelensky has repeatedly used the words "thank you" and expressed Ukraine's gratitude ever since Republicans on Capitol Hill criticised him personally for not being grateful enough for US support.
That was more than two years ago – and ever since that painful Oval Office showdown last February, Zelensky has expressed gratitude on many occasions.
Imogen Foulkes
Reporting from Geneva
We’ve just seen US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Army secretary Dan Driscoll leave the Hotel Intercontinental.
Flanked by security and high-ranking members of the military, the US team were tight lipped.
Questions shouted at the delegation, for a response to President Trump accusing Ukraine of ingratitude, were met with a stony silence.
When the Ukraine team left the hotel after their talks with the US, they suggested things were going well.
For half an hour the US delegates were up in the 18th floor negotiating room on their own.
Then came the President’s all capitals message: "UKRAINE 'LEADERSHIP' HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA."
Was this the result of a call between Geneva and Washington? Either way it feels as if that faint hopeful mood has disappeared.
We're now hearing from Ukraine's top security official, Rustem Umerov, who says Ukraine "expects to make more progress today" in diplomatic talks in Geneva.
In a post on Telegram, Umerov echoes Ukrainian President Zelensky's understanding that the 28-point peace plan may include Ukraine's interests. He says: "Our current proposals while still not finalized include many Ukrainian priorities."
He adds: "We appreciate our American partners working closely with us to understand our concerns to reach this critical point and we expect to make more progress today."
These comments came shortly after US President Donald Trump accused Ukraine's leaders of having "zero gratitude" for US efforts to bring about peace.
US President Donald Trump accuses Ukraine of having "zero gratitude" over US efforts to end the war.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, he writes: "UKRAINE 'LEADERSHIP' HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA."
Trump writes: "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."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says there is now an understanding that the US-proposed peace plan may take into account "a number of elements that are based on the Ukrainian vision and are critical to Ukraine's national interests".
He adds that further work is ongoing to ensure that "all elements are truly effective in achieving the main goal – to finally put an end to the bloodshed and war".
It comes as the Ukrainian delegation are meeting European and American delegations in Geneva, which Zelensky says is in order to "find workable solutions".
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he is "sceptical" a deal on Ukraine can be reached by Trump's Thursday deadline, adding that "we are very far from that".
Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 in Johannesburg, Merz says: "That doesn't mean it's completely impossible to reach…" adding that he is "sceptical whether such an outcome is possible given the current differences".
As a reminder, Donald Trump has given Ukraine until Thursday – which is Thanksgiving in the US – to agree to the proposed 28-point plan. He has caveated that it doesn't represent a "final offer", and deadlines could be extended if things are "going well"
Merz says that the focus now should be on drafting a document acceptable to Ukraine, that can then be used to negotiate a peace agreement with Russia.
Sarah Rainsford
Eastern Europe correspondent, reporting from Geneva
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.
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