Geneva Talks Over U.S. 28-Point Peace Plan Show Early Progress as Allies Urge Revisions

U.S. and Ukrainian delegations met in Geneva to review a 28-point peace proposal framed by U.S. officials as a basis for ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Participants described early progress after a first round of talks, and planned a follow-up session to continue negotiations and address concerns raised by Western partners.

Delegations and tone

Lawmakers and senior U.S. officials who attended described the initial session as constructive. Senator Marco Rubio, part of the U.S. delegation, called the meeting a productive start and said negotiators would reconvene for a second round later the same day. Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak confirmed the session concluded and that further talks were scheduled.

U.S. president sets a deadline — but signals flexibility

President Trump posted on Truth Social ahead of the Geneva meetings, criticizing what he characterized as a lack of gratitude from Kyiv for U.S. military assistance while stopping short of strongly condemning Russia. The president also set a deadline of Thursday for Ukraine to respond to the proposal, though officials said that deadline could be extended if tangible progress were demonstrated.

“The Ukraine-Russia war is a violent and terrible one that, with strong and proper U.S. and Ukrainian leadership, would have never happened,” the president wrote in his post, urging that lives lost in the conflict be honored as negotiators seek a resolution.

Kyiv’s response

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed continued U.S. security assistance and stressed Kyiv’s priority of preventing the war from reigniting. He said on Telegram that Ukrainian, American and European teams were in close contact and urged a positive outcome that would halt bloodshed and protect Ukraine’s national interests. Zelenskyy added that U.S. proposals might incorporate elements important to Ukraine, though he declined to detail specifics.

Allied concerns and political debate

The U.S. draft — a 28-point blueprint circulated by Washington — alarmed some officials in Kyiv and across Europe, prompting Western partners to push for revisions. Critics argued the draft appeared to accommodate several demands Moscow has repeatedly raised and that Ukraine has consistently rejected, including proposals relating to territorial concessions.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators said they had been told privately that portions of the draft reflected Russian preferences; Senator Angus King described it as resembling a “wish list” of Russian demands. Senator Rubio and other administration representatives rejected that characterization, saying the proposal was authored by the United States and incorporates input from both Russia and Ukraine as a framework for negotiation.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott reiterated that the plan was prepared by the U.S. with contributions from both sides and called suggestions that it was merely a Russian document “blatantly false.”

Next steps

Officials emphasized that any final agreement would require approval from the parties involved, including Russia, and ultimately would need sign-off at the presidential level. Delegations agreed to continue consultations, refine proposals, and work with European partners to address outstanding concerns. For now, negotiators say the document serves as a starting framework for deeper diplomacy rather than a finished treaty.

Context: The negotiations in Geneva reflect diplomatic efforts to translate a multi-point U.S. proposal into a viable roadmap for de-escalation. Observers say the discussions will hinge on balancing mediated concessions with Ukraine’s sovereignty and security guarantees, while ensuring European allies remain aligned with the negotiation strategy.