The U.S. and Ukraine Report Progress in the Geneva Talks on Ending the War

American and Ukrainian officials reported progress in negotiations to end the war with Russia after a meeting in Geneva, but offered no details on how they propose to resolve the most fundamental disputes between Moscow and Kyiv.

Speaking to reporters after a day of talks with Ukrainian and European officials, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “tremendous” progress had been made. “I am very optimistic and believe we can reach a resolution within a reasonable timeframe,” he said.

Rubio added that consultations would continue. “I am not ready to declare victory or a final outcome. There is still work to be done,” he said. The secretary of state declined to say whether a breakthrough had been achieved on the most contentious points of the 28-point plan delivered to Volodymyr Zelensky last week. These include a demand that Ukraine relinquish the part of the Donbas still controlled by Kyiv, a ban on Ukrainian membership in NATO, and limits on the size of Ukraine’s armed forces.

According to Rubio, the final text of the agreement must be approved by Zelensky and US President Donald Trump before it is sent to Moscow. In a joint statement, the United States and Ukraine described the talks as “constructive, focused and respectful.” The document said the discussions demonstrated “substantial progress in narrowing differences and identifying next steps” and reaffirmed that any agreement must “fully safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and ensure a durable and just peace.”

In recent days Washington has stepped up pressure on Kyiv and its allies, pushing for an agreement with Moscow—a move that has raised concern in European capitals and in the United States itself, where many fear it amounts to accepting Russia’s terms in practice. After speaking with Zelensky on the morning of Monday, November 24, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb called the Geneva talks “a step forward,” but stressed that key issues “remain to be resolved.” He added that any decisions directly affecting the competences of the EU or NATO would be discussed “in a separate format.”

The Geneva negotiations capped a tense weekend of diplomatic activity. After Washington demanded that Ukraine approve the plan by Thursday, Trump said the proposal was not a “final offer” from the United States. Rubio then reportedly sought to distance Washington from the document, but a few hours later again underscored that the plan had indeed been drafted by the US.

National security advisers from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the EU arrived in Geneva, along with American and Ukrainian officials. The participants included Rubio; Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner; special envoy Steve Witkoff — one of the architects of the plan — and US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, a longtime ally of Vice President J.D. Vance. The Ukrainian delegation was led by Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidential office, and Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s national security and defense chief; they were later joined by European representatives.

US pressure to secure an end to the conflict rippled through European defense companies: on Monday the Stoxx defense and aerospace index fell by 1.1 percent, extending a 3 percent drop from Friday. After the plan was presented to Zelensky last week, Kyiv’s European partners called for “additional refinement” of the proposal.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the document must contain three essential principles. “First, borders cannot be changed by force. Second, as a sovereign state, Ukraine cannot have limits placed on its armed forces. And third, the European Union’s central role in securing peace for Ukraine must be fully reflected,” she stressed.

The proposed plan crosses several of Ukraine’s fundamental red lines, including the transfer to Russia of the remaining part of the Donetsk region, which Moscow is attempting to seize. One European official voiced concern that if the talks collapse, Trump could, out of irritation, withdraw US support for Kyiv, leaving Ukraine exposed. “We are, of course, preparing for that scenario as well,” he said.

European diplomats expect further meetings this week between France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Potential participants also include the leaders of Poland and Finland, as well as NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte. “We are trying to prepare a counter-proposal that would be viable,” one European diplomat said.

In the United States, the document has split Republicans. Several senators — including former majority leader Mitch McConnell and longtime Trump ally Lindsey Graham — publicly criticized the plan. “Vladimir Putin is a murderer, a rapist and a killer, and we should do nothing that could give him any sense of victory,” Republican senator Thom Tillis said at the Halifax International Security Forum. “Any agreement must be one the people of Ukraine can accept.”

At the same time, Republican senator Eric Schmitt defended Trump’s “realistic” approach.