On Monday, the United States and Ukraine aimed to bridge the differences in a peace proposal aimed at concluding the conflict with Russia, following modifications to a U.S. plan that Kyiv and its European partners perceived as favorable to the Kremlin.
In a joint statement, the White House and Kyiv announced that they had developed a “refined peace framework” after a day of discussions in Geneva on Sunday, although they did not disclose any details.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine’s team was heading back home on Monday to provide an update after the discussions with U.S. officials in Switzerland.
Last week, the U.S. unexpectedly presented a 28-point peace plan to Kyiv and European nations, giving Ukraine a deadline until Thursday to agree on a framework to conclude Europe’s most lethal conflict since World War II.
Following the Sunday talks, no public announcement was made regarding how the adjusted plan would address contentious matters such as ensuring Ukraine’s security against future threats from Russia and financing the country’s reconstruction.
“We continue to collaborate with partners, particularly the United States, to seek compromises that will reinforce us rather than undermine us,” Zelenskyy stated through a video link from a separate summit of Ukraine’s allies in Sweden.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia should be held accountable for the war in Ukraine, highlighting the importance of making decisions regarding the use of frozen Russian assets.
“At this moment, we are at a pivotal stage, and we are working alongside the United States, European allies, and others to outline steps that can bring an end to Russia’s aggression against us and establish genuine security.”
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated on Monday that his team has worked with U.S. officials to keep “sensitive points” on the agenda during peace discussions, such as the complete release of all Ukrainian prisoners and civilians, along with the “full return” of Ukrainian children taken by Russia.
The leaders of the coalition supporting Ukraine will hold a video conference on Tuesday to deliberate on the peace negotiations, as announced by a spokesperson for the European Commission. Canada has also participated in previous coalition meetings this year alongside Ukraine’s European partners.
“There is still a significant amount of work to accomplish regarding the proposals for peace in Ukraine,” she told journalists during a daily briefing in Brussels.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the virtual meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
“Everyone is fully focused on achieving a just and lasting peace,” Starmer remarked to reporters in London.
Starmer acknowledged that while “progress has been made, yes, [there is] more work ahead.”
Rescue crews clear debris from a house that was destroyed in a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, late on Sunday. (Andrii Marienko/The Associated Press)
Unconventional discussions
U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained pressure on Ukraine to finalize an agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the American delegation during the discussions on Sunday, indicated that the Thursday deadline for an agreement might not be absolute.
Sources familiar with the situation suggested that Zelenskyy might travel to the United States as early as this week to discuss the most sensitive elements of the plan with Trump.
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Canada joins world leaders saying Trump’s plan to end war in Ukraine needs ‘additional work’
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Trump’s plan to end Ukraine war would cede territory to Russia
In a social media update on Sunday, Trump remarked that Ukraine’s “leadership” had shown “zero gratitude” for U.S. efforts aimed at achieving peace — a statement that mirrored a contentious February Oval Office meeting where Zelenskyy received harsh criticism from Trump and Vice-President JD Vance.
During his first term, Trump faced impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives following a phone call with Zelenskyy, during which he allegedly pressured the Ukrainian leader for a quid pro quo, although he was later acquitted by the Senate.
The initial 28-point proposal introduced by the U.S. last week called for Ukraine to surrender further territory, limit its military capabilities, and abandon its aspirations of NATO membership — demands from Russia that Ukrainians have consistently rejected.
The U.S. is pressuring Ukraine to accept a 28-point peace deal with Russia, but what exactly is in the proposal and why has it come about now? CBC’s Briar Stewart explains.
Parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk reiterated that Ukraine remains committed to its red lines, asserting that EU and NATO membership must be integral components of Ukraine’s security assurances and any peace agreement.
Two sources informed Reuters on Saturday that the original plan was formulated during an October meeting in Miami, attended by special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — a White House adviser during Trump’s first term but not his second — and Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian envoy currently under U.S. sanctions.
Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. have criticized the peace proposal as essentially a list of demands from Russia, yet Rubio has asserted that Washington created the plan with input from both parties.
European allies have put forth a counter-proposal that would alleviate some of the suggested territorial concessions and include a NATO-style security guarantee from the United States for Ukraine in the event of an attack.
Certain EU leaders will convene to discuss Ukraine during an EU-African Union summit in Luanda, Angola, on Monday, with others joining via video link.
Kremlin awaiting updates
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked on Monday that Russia had not received any official updates regarding the outcomes of the Geneva discussions.
When questioned about a reported alteration in a clause related to NATO and Ukraine, which seemed to open the possibility for Kyiv to join the U.S.-led military alliance in the future, Peskov stated that it was “too significant and intricate of an issue to be determined solely based on media accounts.”
Peskov indicated that Russia would depend on information gathered through official channels.
Delegations from Ukraine and the U.S. sounded more optimistic during the most recent talks about an American plan to end the war, but skepticism remains that the plan actually came from Russia.
Drone intercepted in Moscow, city’s mayor reports
Russian forces have gradually advanced in several areas, while Ukrainian power and gas infrastructure have been heavily targeted by drone and missile strikes, causing millions to endure hours without water, heat, and electricity daily.
On Monday, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that its troops had gained control of the village of Zatyshshia in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region.
Russian forces were also advancing in the transit hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, capturing two districts there, as reported by the RIA state news agency citing the Defence Ministry.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the battlefield reports.
In Moscow, the city’s mayor announced that three airports serving the capital temporarily suspended all incoming and outgoing flights due to a Ukrainian drone on Monday. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin indicated that emergency services were responding to the situation involving the downed drone, which had been intercepted by Russian air defense systems.
On Sunday, officials reported that Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, experienced what was described as a massive drone attack, resulting in at least four fatalities.
