US says progress seen in Ukraine peace talks, but final deal hinges on leaders' approval
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reports substantial progress in Geneva on a US-backed peace plan for Ukraine, but final agreement still requires presidential approvals and Russia's acceptance.
There has been substantial progress in negotiations over a US-drafted peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after talks in Geneva with Ukrainian and European negotiators.
But Rubio stressed that there is still work to be done before any deal can be put before Kyiv and Washington for final approval, and then handed to Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there were signals that Washington is listening to Kyiv's concerns.
Concerns about leaked proposals persist, with some parts viewed as favorable to Russia and others welcomed by Moscow as a potential settlement framework. Zelensky warned Ukraine could face a difficult choice between preserving dignity and maintaining important partnerships.
Rubio told reporters after Sunday sessions that negotiators in Geneva had a very good day, focusing on narrowing the open items from the 28-point plan in a substantial way.
He cautioned that any final agreement would require the approval of both Ukrainian and U.S. presidents before the package could be presented to Russia, and that a few issues remain to be resolved.
There were reports that Kyiv's European allies, led by Britain, France and Germany, had proposed an alternative plan. Rubio said he had no knowledge of such a document.
Earlier, former U.S. president Donald Trump criticized Ukraine's leaders for showing zero gratitude for American efforts, and noted that Europe continues to buy oil from Russia, helping Moscow finance its war.
The Geneva talks focus on the US draft, which is said to include a Ukrainian troop withdrawal from parts of Donetsk, plus Russian control in Donetsk and Luhansk and the southern Crimea region annexed in 2014. The plan also calls for freezing the borders of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia along current front lines, with these regions partially occupied by Russia.
The draft also suggests Ukraine would cap its military at about 600,000 personnel, down from roughly 880,000 today, and pledges that Ukraine will not seek NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees that are yet to be detailed. It also proposes that Russia would be reintegrated into the global economy, with sanctions lifted and the option to rejoin the G7, effectively a return to a G8 format.
Russia currently controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory and has made slow gains along the front line amid heavy losses.
Trump has given Ukraine until Thursday to agree to the proposals, but later said this was not his final offer for Kyiv as Europe and other allies voiced concerns.
Rubio told reporters on Sunday that he remains very optimistic about reaching a reasonable agreement soon, whether on Thursday, another day, or early next week.
Key insight: A genuine breakthrough is possible, but any final peace deal depends on consent from Kyiv and Washington and acceptance by Moscow. Source
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