US Signals Flexibility on Controversial 28-Point Ukraine Peace Plan Ahead of Geneva Talks

Washington has signalled there is room for negotiation over a 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine, as diplomats and senior officials prepare to meet in Geneva on Sunday amid objections from Kyiv, many Western allies and some US lawmakers.

Overview

The draft proposal — described by US officials as a negotiating framework rather than a final offer — would require Ukraine to cede territory, reduce elements of its armed forces and pledge not to join NATO. President Trump has said he hopes to end hostilities "one way or the other" and has given Ukraine until 27 November to accept the plan, though Kyiv is seeking revisions to clauses it says reflect Russia's hardest demands.

US position and diplomatic moves

US officials rejected claims by a group of senators that Senator Marco Rubio had characterised the document as a Russian "wish list." Rubio posted that the proposal "was authored by the US" and called it "a strong framework for ongoing negotiations," acknowledging it incorporated input from multiple sides, including Russia and Ukraine.

A US official said Senator Rubio and diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff were expected in Geneva for the talks, and that Daniel Driscoll had already arrived after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

Kyiv and allies push back

Ukraine's president issued a decree naming a negotiating team led by his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and said the talks would include "representatives of the Russian Federation," although Moscow had not immediately confirmed participation.

Kyiv has said it will propose alternatives to parts of the plan it views as unacceptable. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine faces a difficult choice and stressed that his delegation will defend national interests and work to prevent future invasions.

European and Western response

European partners — who say they were not involved in drafting the plan — called for more work to strengthen Ukraine's position and security guarantees. Leaders at the G20 described the US proposal as "a basis which will require additional work," while a joint statement from several countries emphasised that borders should not be changed by force and expressed concern that proposed limits on Ukraine's military could leave it vulnerable.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron said the Geneva talks should focus on firm security guarantees and broader consultations among European allies, including how to handle frozen Russian assets held in the EU and the question of Ukraine's NATO prospects.

Russia's response

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the blueprint could "lay the foundation" for a final peace settlement but warned Moscow might seize more territory if Ukraine rejects negotiations.

What to watch in Geneva

• Whether Russia sends an official delegation to the talks.
• Any revisions proposed by Kyiv and how Western partners respond.
• Agreements on concrete security guarantees and mechanisms for enforcement.

The Geneva consultations are likely to be a crucial moment for diplomacy: leaders and envoys will test whether the US framework can be adjusted to address allies' security concerns while creating a credible path toward ending the conflict.