USA and Ukraine agree on revised peace plan

The situation at a glance

USA and Ukraine agree on revised peace plan

They negotiated for hours. The USA and Ukraine have drawn up a new version of the originally very controversial peace plan in Geneva. Washington is optimistic. Time is running out.

There is progress in the struggle for a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine: representatives of the USA and Ukraine jointly created a revised and improved draft at talks in Geneva. Both sides agreed to continue intensive work on the proposal “in the coming days” and to continue to coordinate closely with European partners, said a joint statement distributed in Kiev and Washington.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke of “enormous progress” in Geneva. The outstanding points are “not insurmountable,” he said – without giving details on the controversial issues. “I firmly believe we will get it done,” Rubio said.

Final decisions on the new plan to end Russia’s war of aggression, which has been ongoing for more than three and a half years, will be made by US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, the joint statement said. The new draft was not initially published. And once there is a final plan approved by Kiev, Washington and European partners, the biggest hurdle still needs to be overcome: there can be no peace without the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Rubio assured European partners that issues that directly affect Europe and NATO should be addressed separately. He said they wanted to get the opinions of their allies.

In Geneva on Sunday, negotiators from Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, the EU, Ukraine and the United States discussed the US side’s 28-point peace plan in different formats. The original plan was announced last week by US media and was seen by critics as extremely advantageous for Russia and almost a capitulation for Ukraine.

The publication triggered hectic diplomatic efforts that, among other things, overshadowed the G20 summit in South Africa over the weekend. The aim of Kiev’s European partners was to come to a draft that appropriately reflects the interests of Ukraine and Europe.

Originally, Trump had only given Ukraine until this Thursday – the US holiday of Thanksgiving – to respond to the peace plan. Recently, however, he appeared more conciliatory. Rubio also softened the deadline. He would like to have a degree by then – but “whether Thursday, Friday, Wednesday or Monday next week” is of secondary importance. “We want it to happen soon,” Rubio said.