US, Ukraine welcome progress on updated peace plan
Zelenskyy said Ukraine and its partners are seeking compromises that protect the country’s strength while still moving peace efforts forward.
Ukraine, U.S. Hail Breakthrough in Peace Talks as Allies Urge Caution
Ukraine and its Western partners struck an optimistic tone Monday after high-stakes discussions in Geneva yielded what both Kyiv and Washington described as an “updated and refined peace framework” aimed at ending Russia’s full-scale war. The statement came after days of mounting pressure from the United States, which has pushed Ukraine to endorse a 28-point proposal by Thanksgiving—an ultimatum that has left European allies uneasy and Kyiv bracing for difficult decisions.
According to a joint U.S.–Ukraine statement, the Geneva meetings had been “highly productive,” producing “meaningful progress.” While the two sides withheld specifics, the shift in tone was enough to spark cautious hope across Europe, where leaders have been closely tracking Washington’s push to secure Ukrainian support for a plan some fear could tilt too far toward Moscow’s demands.
European officials, while welcoming the apparent movement, warned that “major issues” remained unresolved. Diplomats familiar with the discussions say Kyiv’s team has been wrestling with how to respond to Washington’s accelerating timetable without conceding on principles it considers foundational—sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right to determine its own security future.
Russia, meanwhile, continued to signal that it had been excluded from the talks. Kremlin spokespersons suggested Moscow was learning about developments through the media, and it remained unclear whether any counterproposals Ukraine might put forward would be considered acceptable by Russia. Analysts noted that any peace framework lacking Kremlin buy-in would face immediate limitations, even if Western governments attempted to rally support around it.
Into this tense diplomatic landscape stepped President Donald Trump, who weighed in early Monday with a characteristically blunt message on Truth Social. Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening,” he wrote. His comments added yet another layer of political volatility as negotiators tried to maintain momentum.
For Ukraine, the stakes of the moment were plain. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that the Ukrainian delegation was already returning home to deliver a full report. “Based on these reports, we will determine the next steps and the timing,” he said, signalling that Kyiv’s response could hinge on both the substance of the Geneva talks and the mood among Ukraine’s political and military leadership.
Speaking earlier via video link at a summit in Sweden, Zelenskyy underscored the delicate balance Ukraine must maintain. Kyiv, he said, was working with partners “to look for compromises that strengthen but not weaken us.” Those words reflected the tightrope Ukraine now walks—seeking a path to peace without jeopardising its long-fought sovereignty or undermining the morale of a population still enduring daily air-raid sirens, shortages, and frontline losses.
Zelenskyy had warned just days earlier that Ukraine might be entering “the most difficult week” of the war yet—not because of events on the battlefield, but because of the choice he feared the country would soon confront: its “dignity” versus the demands of a “key partner.” The United States remains Ukraine’s most significant supporter, providing weapons, intelligence, and financial aid essential to sustaining the country’s defence. Any hint of friction between Washington and Kyiv inevitably sends ripples through European capitals and military planning rooms.
At the same time, voices in Washington suggested the talks had been more productive than critics believed. His remarks contrasted sharply with Trump’s complaints that Kyiv had shown “zero gratitude” to the U.S., an accusation that irritated Ukrainian officials already working under immense diplomatic strain.
For now, the shape of the “refined” peace plan remains behind closed doors. But the mood—cautious, hopeful, and fraught—reflects the gravity of this moment. Whether the Geneva progress marks the start of a genuine breakthrough or simply a temporary easing of tensions will become clearer only once Kyiv announces its next steps.