Ukrainian, American and European officials gathered in Geneva on Nov. 23 to discuss a draft plan presented by Washington to end the war in Ukraine after Kyiv and its allies voiced alarm over what they saw as major concessions to the aggressor Russia.
President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had until Nov. 27 to approve the 28-point plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military and renounce ambitions to join NATO.
For many Ukrainians, including soldiers fighting on the front lines, such terms would amount to capitulation after nearly four years of Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. On Nov. 22, however, Trump said his proposal for ending the war is not his final offer.
Zelenskyy posted a video on X from the meeting in Geneva on Nov. 23 saying that while he was grateful for all the support, it was important to ensure that the steps taken to end the war are effective.
“Ukraine has never wanted war, and we will never be an obstacle to peace. Diplomacy has been reinvigorated — and this is good,” he said. “We expect the outcome to deliver the right steps. And the first priority is a reliable peace, guaranteed security, respect for our people, and respect for everyone who gave their lives defending Ukraine from Russian aggression.”
Since the plan was announced, there has been considerable confusion about who was involved in drawing it up. European allies said they had not been consulted.
Before heading to Geneva, Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted in a post on X that Washington had written the plan. He posted the remark after Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said Rubio had called him and other senators and explained it was a proposal the United States had received and passed on to Ukraine.
“The peace proposal was authored by the U.S. It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations,” Rubio wrote on X. “It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.”
Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, said in a statement on Nov. 22 that they had “significant concerns over the details of the reported peace plan.” “For over 10 years, Russia has illegally occupied Ukrainian territory and for almost 4 years, Ukraine has admirably defended itself against Russia’s attempts to fully occupy Ukraine,” says the statement. “However, we will not achieve that lasting peace by offering Putin concession after concession and fatally degrading Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. History teaches us that Putin only understands strength and will not abide by any agreement unless it is backed by force. We must consult closely with our Ukrainian and NATO partners on the path forward.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X that Ukraine’s allies were ready to work on the plan, but before doing so, “it would be good to know for sure who is the author of the plan and where was it created.”
Zelenskyy welcomed the diplomatic efforts in Geneva, saying he hoped they would lead to a result.
“The bloodshed must be stopped, and we must ensure that the war is never reignited,” he said on X.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he planned to speak to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Nov. 24 about Ukraine and share the outcome with European and U.S. leaders and allies.
The draft plan, which includes many of Russia’s key demands and offers only vague assurances to Ukraine of “robust security guarantees,” comes at a perilous moment for the country.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Nov. 23 that Ukraine’s borders cannot be changed by force, its army cannot be left vulnerable to attack and that the European Union must have a central role in a Ukraine peace deal.
Russia has been making gains along the front in the east and south of Ukraine, but slowly. Western and Ukrainian officials say the advances have been extremely costly in terms of lives lost.
The transportation hub of Pokrovsk has been partially taken by Russian forces, and Ukrainian commanders say they do not have enough soldiers to prevent small, persistent incursions.
Ukraine’s power and gas facilities have been pummeled by drone and missile attacks, meaning millions of people are without water, heating and power for hours each day.
Zelenskyy himself has been under pressure domestically after a major corruption scandal broke, ensnaring some of his ministers and people in his entourage.
Kyiv had taken heart in recent weeks after the U.S. tightened sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, the main source of funding for the war, as its own long-range drone and missile strikes have caused considerable damage to the industry.
But the draft peace plan has caused major concern because it appears to hand the diplomatic advantage to Moscow. Ukraine relies heavily on U.S. intelligence and weapons to sustain its war against Russia.
Convoys of diplomatic vehicles shuttled through Geneva on Nov. 23 as the talks were about to begin.
U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll also was in Geneva for the talks, and Ukraine’s delegation is led by the head of Zelenskyy’s office, Andriy Yermak.
Yermak said his delegation met with the national security advisers from Britain, France and Germany and would next meet with the U.S.
European and other Western leaders have said the U.S. peace plan was a basis for talks to end the war but needed “additional work.” A German government source said a European draft peace plan, which is based on the U.S. proposal, had been sent to Ukraine and to the U.S. administration.
Zelenskyy has warned that Ukraine risked losing its dignity and freedom – or Washington’s backing – over the plan.
Russia’s Putin described the plan as the basis for a resolution to the conflict, but Moscow may object to some proposals. The plan requires its forces to pull back from some areas they have captured.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Contributing: Reuters