Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Nov 24: Ukrainian negotiators met with US officials on Sunday to discuss a 28-point Washington peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia, with both sides describing the talks as “highly productive” and showing “meaningful progress.”
The consultations involved US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Andriy Yermak, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, in Geneva.
The plan, developed by Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, has been heavily criticized as favoring Russia, including provisions that would:
• Allow Russia control over territories it currently holds or covets in Ukraine
• Require Ukraine to withdraw from certain areas still under its control
• Limit the size of Ukraine’s military
• Block Ukraine from joining NATO
Trump, who had set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to agree to the plan, indicated he might be flexible if progress is made. While he has alternated between criticism of Russia and Ukraine, he stressed that “one way or another we have to get it [the war] ended.”
The plan has drawn opposition from Western leaders and members of Trump’s own party, with European heads of state and government—including Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and others—stating that “borders must not be changed by force” and expressing concern over limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces.
Senator Mitch McConnell also criticized the approach, warning that the administration should prioritize “real peace” over appeasing Putin.
For the plan to proceed, Russian approval is necessary, and Putin’s advisor Kirill Dmitriev has already held preliminary discussions in Miami with Witkoff. Putin signaled openness, stating his government was “ready to show the flexibility that has been offered to us” despite some “difficult issues and complications.”
The talks come amid ongoing international scrutiny and pressure to find a resolution to the war, with Ukraine navigating the delicate balance of concessions and sovereignty under intense diplomatic and domestic pressures.