Ukraine and the United States began another round of “intensive work” on Monday after both sides reported progress in sensitive negotiations over a U.S.-backed plan to end Russia’s war. Washington has been urging Kyiv to sign on to the framework by Thanksgiving.
After meetings in Geneva, the two countries issued a joint statement saying they had produced an “updated and refined peace framework” and made “meaningful progress” in what they called “highly productive” talks. Specific details were not released. European leaders, meanwhile, warned that major disagreements remain, particularly as Ukraine and its partners weigh a U.S. ultimatum centered on a 28-point proposal they fear could grant Moscow its core demands.
Russia suggested again on Monday that it has not been included in the discussions, and it remains uncertain whether any Ukrainian counterproposals would be acceptable to the Kremlin.
Speaking by video link to a summit in Sweden, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was working with allies “to look for compromises that strengthen, but not weaken us.” He had cautioned on Friday that Ukraine was entering what could be its most difficult week yet, forced to choose between its “dignity” and a “key partner.”
Tensions rose further Sunday as President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine for showing “zero gratitude” for U.S. support throughout the conflict. Still, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Geneva talks had produced “a tremendous amount of progress.”
Zelenskyy, trying to reassure Washington while also facing domestic pressure linked to a corruption scandal, emphasized that “Ukraine was grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and to President Trump personally.” In a separate statement late Sunday, he added that there were “signals President Trump’s team is hearing us.”
Asked about the push to finalize at least a framework by Thanksgiving, Rubio said the U.S. wants to “get this done” quickly. “Obviously, we’d love it to be Thursday,” he noted.
Even with signs of movement, European governments are uneasy. America’s traditional allies are scrambling to respond to a deal that could reshape European security.
“The negotiations were a step forward, but there are still major issues which remain to be resolved,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote on X.
European Union leaders were expected to discuss the situation at a summit already underway in Angola on Monday, as reports circulated of a competing counter-proposal from major European powers.
Critics say the Trump-backed plan would amount to Ukraine’s effective capitulation — requiring Kyiv to cede significant territory and scale back its military without securing major concessions from Russia. That has fueled questions about who drafted the framework and how closely Ukraine was consulted.
Rubio insisted Sunday that the plan was written by the U.S., after a bipartisan group of senators said he told them the text originated as a Russian initiative passed to special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Moscow has said it has not been formally brought into the talks, though President Vladimir Putin indicated last week that the framework could serve “as the basis for a final peace settlement.” Even so, it is unclear whether Russia would accept changes that Ukraine and Europe say are necessary.
On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had not received official updates on the Ukraine-U.S. negotiations. “We have, of course, been closely monitoring media reports that have been pouring in over the past few days, including from Geneva. But we haven’t received anything official yet,” he told reporters. He added that no meeting between Russian and American delegations was planned for this week.
