US President Donald Trump says Ukraine's leaders have shown "zero gratitude" over US efforts to end the war
Minutes before, Ukraine's President Zelensky said there is an understanding that a US-proposed peace plan could take into account Ukraine's national interests
It comes as talks continue in Geneva between delegations from the US, Ukraine, and its European allies
The US delegation are tight-lipped following Trump's message and it feels as though the faint hopeful mood has disappeared, writes our reporter in Geneva
European leaders have criticised the 28-point plan, which is widely considered favourable to Russia – here's what is included in the proposal
That plan was met with dismay in Ukraine, writes our correspondent Sarah Rainsford
Edited by Rorey Bosotti and Jemma Crew
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.
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.
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