US and Ukrainian negotiators have recently announced significant progress in drafting an updated and refined peace framework aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Following intensive talks in Geneva, described as “highly productive,” both sides intend to continue working on the peace plan over the coming days. The discussions, backed by the US government, mark a critical step forward in the diplomatic efforts to end the war that has ravaged Ukraine since 2014 and escalated dramatically in 2022.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the progress made during the Geneva meetings, describing it as a “tremendous amount of progress” in refining the 28-point peace plan. However, he also acknowledged that “there is still some work to be done” before a final agreement could be presented to Russia. The US and Ukraine are carefully narrowing down outstanding issues, aiming to reach a consensus that can be jointly approved by their respective presidents prior to engagement with Moscow.
The original draft of the US-backed peace plan, the details of which were leaked last week, has sparked mixed reactions. Russia gave a cautious welcome to the proposal, but Kyiv and many European leaders expressed reservations, arguing that the plan appeared to favor the Kremlin excessively. The draft called for Ukraine to make several significant concessions, such as withdrawing troops from parts of the eastern Donetsk region currently under its control. It also suggested international recognition of Russia’s de facto control over Donetsk, the neighboring Luhansk region, and Crimea—a peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 but internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
Additional controversial elements of the plan include the freezing of borders in Ukraine’s southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions along the current battle lines. Ukraine would also be required to reduce the size of its military forces from approximately 880,000 to 600,000 personnel. Perhaps most contentiously, the draft stipulates that Ukraine would forgo any future aspirations to join NATO. Instead, Kyiv would be offered “reliable security guarantees,” though the plan does not provide details about what those guarantees would entail. The document assumes that Russia will refrain from invading its neighbors and that NATO will halt any further expansion.
The draft further envisions a reintegration of Russia into the global economy, including the lifting of sanctions and an invitation for Russia to rejoin the group of world’s most powerful economies, the G7, thus restoring it to the G8. This aspect of the plan has drawn criticism for potentially rewarding Russia despite its aggressive actions in Ukraine.
Despite the leak of these contentious provisions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that some critical issues remain on the negotiating table, including the release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war. Speaking to the Swedish parliament, Zelensky described the situation as a “critical moment” for Ukraine. He stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s primary goal is to gain legal recognition of the territories Russia has seized, thereby undermining the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty not just for Ukraine but for the entire world order.
Zelensky’s comments came amid reports that the US and Ukrainian teams have been working intensely to address these sensitive points in the peace framework. He expressed cautious optimism, noting “signals that President [Donald] Trump’s team is hearing us,” suggesting that Kyiv’s concerns are being taken into account as negotiations continue.
The talks in Geneva took place against a backdrop of mixed messages from US leadership. While Secretary of State Rubio painted a positive picture of the negotiations, President Trump made critical remarks about Ukraine’s leadership, accusing them of showing “zero gratitude” for US efforts to broker peace. Trump also highlighted the continued purchase of Russian oil by European countries, which he implied undermined Western efforts to pressure Moscow economically.
European leaders have likewise underscored the progress made during the talks but emphasized that significant issues remain unresolved. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, after speaking with Zelensky, described the negotiations as “a step forward” but warned of “major issues which remain to be resolved.” Stubb also reiterated that any decisions related to the European Union or NATO would be handled through separate, coordinated processes involving all member states.
In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office welcomed the “significant progress” achieved in Geneva. A spokesperson noted that while “some outstanding issues” persist, intensive work on the peace plan would continue in the days and weeks ahead. Similarly, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the meetings as a “decisive success” for European