US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism on Sunday following what he described as productive talks between American and Ukrainian officials in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. After the first session, Rubio told reporters the talks were “probably the most productive and significant” to date. Rubio stated that the 28-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump continues to evolve as delegates work to reach terms acceptable to both Ukraine and Russia. “It is a living, evolving document. It changes daily based on new information,” he said, adding, “The outstanding issues are not insurmountable. We just need more time than we have today.” The US proposal has faced bipartisan criticism over concessions made to Russia. The plan pressures Kyiv to cede territory, limit the size of its armed forces, and promise not to join NATO in exchange for an end to the war—all long-standing Kremlin demands. Amid this criticism, a US State Department representative insisted the plan was “developed by the United States with input from both Russians and Ukrainians.” The White House said on Sunday that “edits and clarifications” had been made to the proposal following input from high-level American, Ukrainian, and European officials in Geneva, adding that the Ukrainians believe the current draft “reflects their national security interests.” “The Ukrainian delegation confirmed that all of their main concerns—security guarantees, long-term economic development, infrastructure protection, freedom of navigation, and political sovereignty—were carefully considered during the meeting,” the White House statement read. The optimistic sentiment was echoed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who praised the “substantial” outcomes of the meeting. “A lot is changing: we are working very carefully on the steps needed to end the war,” Zelenskyy said in a video address posted on Telegram. The head of Zelenskyy’s office, Andriy Yermak, called the US-Ukraine meeting “very productive” and expressed gratitude to Trump for his commitment to “establishing this peace.” These cautious signs of progress emerged just hours after Trump sharply criticized the Ukrainian leadership for showing “zero gratitude” for US efforts to broker peace. “THE ‘LEADERSHIP’ OF UKRAINE HAS SHOWN ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Speaking to reporters later on Sunday, Rubio told CNN’s Matthew Chance that he had spoken with Trump since and that the former president was “pleased” with the progress made. In a joint statement, the White House and Zelenskyy described the discussions as “highly productive,” showing “significant progress in aligning positions and identifying clear next steps,” resulting in a “refreshed and clarified peace framework.” Ukraine also expressed its appreciation to the US and Trump in the joint statement “for their tireless efforts aimed at ending the war and loss of life.” Zelenskyy noted in his video address that “there are signs that President Trump’s team is listening” to their position. The US President had set a Thursday deadline for Kyiv to accept the US-backed proposal. However, ahead of the meeting, Trump sowed doubt about his timeline, telling reporters on the South Lawn of the White House that the plan was not his “final offer.” Rubio, for his part, indicated on Sunday that the timeline was flexible, remarking that “the Russians also have a say here.” “Our goal is to end this war as quickly as possible, but we need a little more time,” he said. US officials are meeting with the Ukrainian delegation for talks on the American plan to end the war in Ukraine at the US Mission in Geneva on Sunday. US officials are meeting with the Ukrainian delegation for talks on the American plan to end the war in Ukraine at the US Mission in Geneva on Sunday. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images Rubio met with the Ukrainian delegation alongside Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, and a number of other officials. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who played a key role in international affairs at various points during Trump’s first and second terms, was also part of the US delegation. A group of Western and European leaders meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in South Africa on Saturday welcomed the ramp-up in diplomatic efforts but expressed reservations about the US proposal, calling it only an “initial draft” that “will require further work.” The leaders’ statement read: “We adhere to the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned about the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which could leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks.” When asked by CNN ahead of the Ukraine-US talks whether Kyiv would reject Trump’s proposal, Yermak replied they were “preparing for a constructive conversation.” Earlier on Sunday, the Ukrainian delegation met with representatives from the UK, Germany, and France, Yermak reported. The Ukrainian President also held talks with leaders of several nations, including France, Germany, Canada, Croatia, and Luxembourg. Europe Presents a Counter-Proposal Before the White House statement regarding amendments to the US proposal, Reuters reported that the UK, France, and Germany had prepared a counter-proposal to the US plan with several key changes. A European official and a European diplomatic source confirmed the accuracy of the text to CNN’s Chief International Security Correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh. One of these officials noted that the text accurately reflects Europe’s desire to alter the draft US proposal but conceded that additional adjustments might have been made during the rapidly changing talks in Geneva. Among the key changes included in the counter-proposal was softened language regarding limitations on NATO in Europe. The European version excluded references to territorial concessions and the US recognition of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk as de facto Russian territory. ‘You Don’t Appease a Tyrant’: Panetta Reacts to Trump’s Ukraine Peace Proposal The counter-proposal requires a ceasefire to be reached first and sets the current line of contact as the basis for any future discussions on territorial exchanges. It also omits the 100-day timeline for elections in Ukraine, instead stating that elections would be held as soon as possible after a peace agreement is signed. It remains unclear whether European countries will be involved in the US-led negotiations with Ukraine and Russia. A Western diplomat told CNN there was concern that the US might “not let us into the tent” and exclude European powers from the talks. One European diplomat told CNN that any future deal “cannot imply recognition of occupation. The line of contact must be the starting point.” “There should be no revocation of the right to choose alliances, there should be no limit on the size of Ukraine’s armed forces or a backdoor introduction of Russian demands on European security,” stated the diplomat. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was “skeptical” that an agreement on the US-proposed plan would be reached by Trump’s deadline, citing concerns about current divergences in opinion. A Ukrainian soldier watches from a hospital damaged by Russian shelling in the frontline town of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on November 13. A Ukrainian soldier watches from a hospital damaged by Russian shelling in the frontline town of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on November 13. Stringer/Reuters “I wouldn’t say pessimistic, but I’m not sure that the solution desired by President Trump will be achieved in the coming days,” Merz said on Sunday. “That doesn’t mean it’s completely impossible to achieve. … But I am skeptical about the possibility of such an outcome.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that he and other world leaders were prepared to work towards a deal despite reservations about its content. “However, before we begin our work, it would be nice to know exactly who is the author of the plan and where it was created,” Tusk wrote on X. Planning for a separate meeting between the Russian delegation and the US to discuss the proposal is also underway and “will happen quickly,” a US official said—but not in Geneva. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously stated that he believed the US proposal “could serve as a basis for a final peace settlement.” The talks in Switzerland precede a proposed EU leaders’ meeting on Monday, announced by European Council President António Costa on Saturday. As part of what appear to be busy diplomatic days, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 30 countries in a “coalition of the willing” to support Kyiv would hold a video call on Tuesday.
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