Top officials from the United States, Ukraine, and national security advisers from France, Britain and Germany hold talks in Geneva on Sunday to discuss Washington’s draft plan to end the war in Ukraine.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were due to arrive on Sunday for the talks on ending Russia’s invasion, now in its fourth year.
On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had until Thursday to approve the 28-point plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military and renounce ambitions to join NATO.
The U.S. peace plan for Ukraine: a leaky blueprint faces rewrites and deadlines
“We hope to iron out the final details…to draft a deal that is advantageous to them (Ukraine),” a U.S. official said. “Nothing will be agreed on until the two presidents get together”, referring to Trump and Zelenskyy.
U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll arrived in Geneva ahead of the talks, and a Ukrainian delegation was expected Saturday evening, the official said. Ukraine confirmed its participation.
National security advisers from the so-called E3 alliance of France, Britain and Germany will join the discussions, alongside the European Union. Italy would also send an official, diplomatic sources said.
In Johannesburg on Saturday, G20 leaders from the EU, UK, Canada, Japan, and Norway welcomed continued US efforts toward peace in Ukraine and acknowledged that the leaked 28-point plan contains important elements for a just and lasting settlement, but stressed it requires substantial additional work.
They firmly rejected any change of borders by force, expressed deep concern over proposed caps on Ukraine’s military that would leave it vulnerable, insisted that any EU- or NATO-related provisions need the consent of those organisations, and reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine.
On the sidelines of the G20 meeting in South Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron said:
“We know under what conditions this peace is acceptable. It is necessary that they take into account the elements that allow for a just and lasting peace for Ukrainians, and which take into account the elements of security for all Europeans,” the French president added.
In particular, he recalled that he considers it wrong to “restrict the format of the Ukrainian army, that is, its own sovereignty.”
“We know that if there are no elements of deterrence, the Russians will return and betray their promise. We have seen this repeatedly, in particular with regard to Ukraine in February 2022,” Macron recalled.
He also emphasized that peace in Ukraine “must start with a ceasefire. And that is also something we can try to achieve in the short term.”
“This plan was not agreed with the Europeans. However, it provides for many things for the Europeans. The frozen assets belong to the Europeans. The European integration of Ukraine is in the hands of the Europeans. The decision of what NATO will do is in the hands of the NATO members. Therefore, there are many things that cannot be simply an American proposal, and which require broader consultation,” Macron emphasized.
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.
Before the talks, Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine risked losing its dignity and freedom – or Washington’s backing – over the plan.
Zelenskyy has formed a delegation for negotiations on the Trump team’s “peace plan”, headed by the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak.
In addition to him, the delegation includes Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Rustem Umerov, Head of the GUR of the Ministry of Defence Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov, Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Oleh Ivashchenko, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the plan as the basis of a resolution to the conflict, but Moscow may object to some proposals in the scheme, which requires its forces to pull back from some areas they have captured.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that his current peace plan for Ukraine is not a final proposal.
Trump was asked near the White House whether the 28-point plan was a “final proposal.”
“No, far from final,” he replied.
He added: “We would like to achieve peace, it should have happened a long time ago. The war between Ukraine and Russia should never have happened. If I were president, it would never have happened. We are trying to end it. One way or another, we must end it.”
Three U.S. senators suggested the plan was delivered by Russia to U.S. officials.
Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican, told reporters at a conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that Rubio had called him and other senators. “He made it very clear to us that we are the recipients of a proposal that was delivered to one of our representatives,” Rounds said. “It is not our recommendation, it is not our plan.”
But Rubio later posted on X that U.S. officials authored the proposal. “It is based on input from the Russian side,” Rubio said. “But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.”
With Reuters and European Pravda, edited by g.g.
Caption: US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (L) listens to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a diplomatic meeting with France’s President, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office, UK National Security Adviser and Germany’s national security advisor at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, France, 17 April 2025. EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL
Updated: November 23, 2025 - 07:52
