US and Ukraine Make Significant Progress on Peace Talks

Discussions regarding a United States-drafted peace plan for Ukraine have made “tremendous” progress, according to Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State. Conversations concluded for the day, with Rubio indicating that the US aims to conclude the war “soon,” though he noted flexibility with the timeline, moving away from the previously mentioned Thursday deadline by Donald Trump.

In response to the US plan, Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders have expressed concerns, particularly about proposals that would require Ukraine to limit its armed forces and relinquish territory, potentially jeopardizing its path to NATO membership. Following discussions at the G20 summit in South Africa, they described the US-drafted plan as “a basis” that necessitates further refinement.

The UK’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell, along with his German and French counterparts, took part in the talks held in Geneva. Although Rubio refrained from detailing specific points still under negotiation, he acknowledged that a definitive resolution to the conflict would depend on Ukraine feeling secure from future Russian aggression.

Rubio stated that Trump was “quite pleased” with the progress made, despite the president’s earlier remarks on social media, where he claimed that Ukraine’s leadership had shown “zero gratitude” for the US efforts. “I feel very optimistic that we can get something done here, because we made a tremendous amount of progress,” Rubio told reporters, confirming that talks would resume on Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted on social media that there are “signals that Trump’s team is hearing us.” Starmer had a second conversation with Trump on Sunday, with discussions emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to achieve a “just and lasting peace.”

Rubio mentioned that US and Ukrainian teams are “making some changes” to the plan in hopes of bridging the gaps between the two sides. The proposed 28-point framework has reportedly been negotiated by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev, with Kyiv and European allies excluded from the discussions.

The US State Department has dismissed claims from several senators who asserted that Rubio described the plan as a “wish list” from Russia. Trump’s only comment regarding the talks came from a post on Truth Social, where he reiterated his belief that Ukraine’s leadership has not adequately acknowledged US assistance, while also highlighting Europe’s ongoing purchase of oil from Russia.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized the necessity for Ukraine’s allies to “find a way to secure that ceasefire and open up space for meaningful negotiations.” Starmer has pointed out the importance of NATO’s Article Five security guarantee in the US plan, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on the entire alliance. This, along with his direct discussions with Trump on Ukraine, illustrates the US leader’s intent for a “just and lasting peace.”

As the dialogue continues, the focus remains on navigating the complex landscape of international relations and ensuring the safety and sovereignty of Ukraine.