Ukraine sounded an optimistic note on negotiations in Geneva to reach a peace deal with Russia, despite accusations over the weekend that Moscow authored the U.S.-led plan, which threatened to undermine talks.
“The Ukrainian delegation is working in Geneva today, focused on finding doable solutions to end the war, restore peace, and guarantee lasting security,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in an X post Sunday, as his team deliberates over a potential deal with European leaders, and a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll.
Some U.S. lawmakers had claimed Rubio told them the 28–point plan was not a true American proposal, expressing concerns that it was a Russian draft “delivered by the Americans.” The State Department has vigorously denied such claims, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying the U.S. had included Ukraine and Russia “equally” in peace deal negotiations “quietly” in progress for weeks, “to understand what these countries would commit to in order to see a lasting and durable peace.”
Zelensky said Sunday that there is “currently… an understanding that the American proposals may include a number of elements based on Ukrainian perspectives and critical for Ukrainian national interests.” His comments come after he and Vice President JD Vance discussed the peace plan in an hour-long phone call on Friday, ultimately agreeing to hold the in-person summit in Geneva.
Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, expressed similar words of optimism, saying “we are in a very constructive mood,” as negotiations take shape in Geneva.
A U.S. official told the BBC that there is a lot of “momentum” right now regarding the talks. The U.S. and Ukraine are optimistic, adding that Sunday’s discussions are about ironing out the details of the agreement.
“We hope to iron out the final details…to draft a deal that is advantageous to them [Ukraine],” a U.S. official told Reuters. “Nothing will be agreed on until the two presidents get together,” the official added, referring to President Donald Trump and Zelensky.
Trump initially floated Thanksgiving as a target date to seal the deal, but later clarified the proposed deal doesn’t represent a “final offer”, and deadlines could be extended if things were “going well”.
The 28-point peace plan was widely leaked this week and has not yet been formally released, being viewed still as a “live document” that can be changed based on discussions with the parties amid continuing negotiations in Geneva, according to Axios.
The plan was drafted by Witkoff, along with Rubio and Jared Kushner. Driscoll first presented the plan to Zelensky on Thursday in writing. Zelensky’s office noted that Trump has “agreed to work on the points of the plan in such a way that it would lead to a worthy end to the war.”
Under the proposal’s terms, Ukraine will be unable to join NATO, be forced to cede large swaths of territory to the Russians, and see a cap imposed on its military, among other requirements.
The proposal also outlines security guarantees for Ukraine, which had been a key sticking point for Zelensky. The U.S. and its NATO allies would treat an attack on Ukraine as an attack on the entire “transatlantic community.” And $100 billion of frozen Russian assets would be earmarked for Ukrainian reconstruction.
Rubio denounces Russian ‘wish list’ claims
The proposal raised controversy after Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and other lawmakers said Saturday that Rubio had told them the deal was “not the [Trump] administration’s position” and merely represented “wish list” items from the Russians.
Rubio denounced that account of the conversation, and a State Department spokesman called it “blatantly false” in a post to X the following day.
“As Secretary Rubio and the entire Administration have consistently maintained, this plan was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians,” the spokesman wrote.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk referenced the debacle on Sunday, even as U.S. lawmakers like Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) denounced “the gross buffoonery,” suggesting “some people better get fired” for “undermining our alliances, and encouraging our adversaries.”
“We have declared our readiness to work on the 28-point plan despite some reservations. However, before we start our work, it would be good to know for sure who is the author of the plan and where was it created,” Tusk said.
European leaders in general have expressed cautious optimism over a possible deal, but warned it must not sacrifice key Ukrainian demands.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday that “we’ll be in a better position to know” about the viability of the effort once officials have worked through “quite a bit of detail” in Geneva.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday he doesn’t believe “it’s completely impossible to reach” a peace deal by Thursday, but added that he is “skeptical whether such an outcome is possible given the current differences,” on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Johannesburg.
UKRAINE ALLIES VOICE CONCERNS OVER US PEACE PLAN AS NEGOTIATORS DESCEND ON GENEVA
Zelensky, who faces the possibility of full U.S. withdrawal of support if he declines to accept the final deal, said this week “only” Washington holds the keys to peace between Ukraine and Russia.
“Only President Trump and the United States have sufficient power to make this war come to an end,” the Ukrainian president said on social media.
