A "future peace agreement" to end the conflict with Russia "must fully respect the sovereignty" of Kiev. This point emerged in Geneva, Switzerland, at the end of "constructive" talks between Americans, Ukrainians, and Europeans. The White House called it "a step forward" toward a peaceful solution, sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio across the Alps. Before the talks, the head of American diplomacy had said he was "very optimistic" about the possibility of reaching an agreement "very quickly," even though many unknowns remain.

The Geneva talks, which concluded Sunday evening, were based on US President Donald Trump's draft 28-point plan to end the conflict sparked by the nearly four-year-old Russian invasion that began on February 24, 2022. "The talks were constructive, focused, and respectful, underscoring our shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace," the White House wrote in a joint statement with the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva.

The two sides "reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully respect Ukraine's sovereignty," so much so that the United States and Ukraine have "drafted a new, refined version of a peace framework" compared to the one leaked in recent days. In Geneva, Ukrainian negotiator Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky's right-hand man, reported "excellent progress" after the Ukrainian president welcomed a new version of the American plan that "already reflects most of Kiev's key priorities."

Trump had given Zelensky until November 27 to respond, later clarifying that his plan would not be his definitive "last offer." The initial version of the document had sparked opposition from Kiev and its European allies—Paris, London, Berlin, and Rome—who had arrived in Geneva on Sunday to avoid a peace that would have taken the form of a capitulation. "We've made enormous progress," Rubio congratulated him, believing that "the outstanding issues are not insurmountable," and leaving the door open for an extension beyond Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday.

Several meetings between Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians were held in Geneva, prior to a lengthy bilateral meeting between Washington and Kiev, held at the US diplomatic mission. Among the Americans present were Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law; Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Ukraine, and Russia; and the Supreme Commander of NATO Forces in Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, as the senior American officer.

Welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the initial text of the Trump plan included several key demands for Moscow : that Ukraine cede territory, agree to reduce the size of its army, and renounce NATO membership. All this while offering Western security guarantees to Kiev to prevent further Russian attacks. The text also proposed ending Russia's isolation from the West, with its reintegration into the G8 and the gradual lifting of sanctions.

Zelensky reiterated his "personal" gratitude to Donald Trump, after the US president once again accused Kiev of ingratitude. "Ukrainian officials have expressed no gratitude for our efforts," he thundered on his social network, Truth Social, declaring that he had "inherited a war that should never have happened."

For their part, Europeans have done everything possible to participate in the negotiations. "Ukraine must have the freedom and sovereign right to choose its own destiny. It has chosen a European destiny," reiterated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, emphasizing that the EU's "central" role must be "fully recognized." In a joint statement released Saturday, the leaders of the coalition of the willing, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, expressed concern "about the proposed limitations on the Ukrainian armed forces, which would make Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks." "We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force," they reiterated. And from Johannesburg for the G20, the Prime Minister reiterated her support for Kiev, confirming that the US plan "is the basis" for a real peace plan.

Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed in a phone call the importance of "all of us working together at this critical time" for the future of Ukraine, Downing Street said.

A meeting of EU leaders is scheduled for today, on the sidelines of a summit with their African counterparts in Angola, and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a video conference meeting of the states supporting Ukraine on Tuesday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is mediating between Kiev and Moscow, announced that he will speak by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, as confirmed by the Kremlin.

(Unioneonline)

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