A diplomatic safety officer secures the doorway of the InterContinental resort as U.S. and Ukrainian officers put together for closed-door talks on ending Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, with the precise time and site undisclosed, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Nov. 23, 2025.
Pierre Albouy | Reuters
Ukrainian, U.S. and European officers gathered in Geneva on Sunday to debate a draft plan introduced by Washington to finish the conflict in Ukraine, after Kyiv and its allies voiced alarm over what they noticed as main concessions to the aggressor Russia.
On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had till Thursday to approve the 28-point plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, settle for limits on its navy and resign ambitions to hitch NATO.
For a lot of Ukrainians, together with troopers preventing on the entrance strains, such phrases would quantity to capitulation after almost 4 years of preventing in Europe’s deadliest battle since World Struggle Two. On Saturday, Trump mentioned the present proposal for ending the conflict isn’t his ultimate provide.
For the reason that plan was introduced, there was appreciable confusion about who was concerned in drawing it up. European allies mentioned that they had not been consulted.
Because the officers gathered in Geneva, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned the objective was to craft a plan acceptable to Ukraine, which might be utilized in a negotiation with Russia. That may seemingly take time, he mentioned.
“Proper now, I am not but satisfied we’ll get the answer President Trump needs within the subsequent few days,” Merz mentioned on the sidelines of a G20 assembly in Johannesburg.
Earlier than heading to Geneva, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted in a put up on X that Washington had authored the plan. He posted the comment after Republican Senator Mike Rounds mentioned Rubio had referred to as him and different senators and defined it was a proposal the U.S. had acquired and handed on to Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk mentioned on X that Ukraine’s allies had been able to work on the plan, however that it was essential to know the way it had come collectively.
Prime officers arrive in Geneva
Rubio and U.S. Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived on Sunday for the rapidly convened Geneva assembly.
“We hope to iron out the ultimate particulars…to draft a deal that’s advantageous to them (Ukraine),” a U.S. official mentioned. “Nothing will probably be agreed on till the 2 presidents get collectively,” the official mentioned, referring to Trump and Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy welcomed the diplomatic efforts in Geneva, saying that he hoped they’d result in a consequence. Earlier than the gathering, U.S. and Ukrainian officers held constructive talks, a U.S. official mentioned.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan mentioned he would converse to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday about Ukraine and share the end result with European and U.S. allies.
A perlious second for Ukraine
The draft plan, which incorporates a lot of Russia’s key calls for and presents solely imprecise assurances to Ukraine of “sturdy safety ensures,” comes at a dangerous second for the nation.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned on Sunday that Ukraine’s borders can’t be modified by drive, its military can’t be left susceptible to assault and that the European Union will need to have a central position in a Ukraine peace deal.
Russia has been making beneficial properties on elements of the entrance, albeit slowly and, in keeping with Western and Ukrainian officers, the advances have been extraordinarily pricey when it comes to lives misplaced.
The transportation hub of Pokrovsk has been partially taken by Russian forces and Ukrainian commanders say they don’t have sufficient troopers to stop small, persistent incursions.
Ukraine’s energy and fuel amenities have been pummelled by drone and missile assaults, which means tens of millions of persons are with out water, heating and energy for hours every day.
Zelenskiy himself has been below strain domestically after a significant corruption scandal broke out, ensnaring a few of his ministers and other people in his shut entourage.
Kyiv had taken coronary heart in current weeks after the USA tightened sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, the primary supply of funding for the conflict, whereas its personal long-range drone and missile strikes have prompted appreciable harm to the trade.
However the draft peace plan seems at hand the diplomatic benefit again to Moscow. Ukraine depends closely on U.S. intelligence and weapons to maintain its conflict towards Russia.
Europeans draft plan primarily based on U.S. proposal
Convoys of diplomatic automobiles shuttled via Geneva on Sunday morning because the talks had been about to get underway.
U.S. Military Secretary Daniel Driscoll was additionally in Geneva for the talks, the place Ukraine’s delegation is led by the pinnacle of Zelenskyy’s workplace, Andriy Yermak.
Yermak mentioned his delegation met with the nationwide safety advisers from Britain, France and Germany and would subsequent maintain talks with the USA.
European and different Western leaders have mentioned the U.S. peace plan was a foundation for talks to finish the conflict however wanted “further work.” A German authorities supply mentioned a European draft peace plan, which is predicated on the U.S. proposal, had been despatched to Ukraine and to the U.S. administration.
Zelenskyy has warned that Ukraine risked shedding its dignity and freedom — or Washington’s backing — over the plan.
Russia’s Putin described the plan as the premise for a decision to the battle, however Moscow might object to some proposals within the scheme, which requires its forces to drag again from some areas they’ve captured.