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The United States and Ukraine have made "meaningful progress" toward a peace framework aimed at ending the ongoing war with Russia during a high-level meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, to address a Trump-backed 28-point plan, the White House announced on Sunday.
The talks were followed by concerns raised among European nations over reported elements of the plan, particularly proposed limitations on Ukraine’s military, including requirements to concede additional territory to Russia, reduce the size of its armed forces, and formally renounce its pursuit of NATO membership.
The discussions were held on Sunday and centered around the 28-point U.S. peace proposal. According to the White House's statement, the outcome of the meeting was the drafting of an "updated and refined" framework designed to deliver a "sustainable and just peace" while upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The U.S. delegation was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy. U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll also participated in the talks. On the Ukrainian side, the delegation was headed by presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak.
The White House described the talks as "constructive, focused, and respectful," noting that both sides had aligned on key issues and identified clear next steps.
While the framework’s final form remains pending, the two governments indicated that ultimate decisions would be made by Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy. Both administrations pledged to intensify cooperation in the coming days, maintaining close coordination with European partners.
"The parties drafted an updated and refined peace framework," read the statement, adding that the talks marked the "most productive discussions to date" in the ongoing negotiation process.
Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—who has not publicly accepted or rejected the proposal—stated that he faced a difficult choice between "the loss of our dignity or the risk of losing a key partner." President Donald Trump had reportedly given Zelenskyy until Thursday to respond.
On Saturday, leaders from nine European countries, along with Japan, Canada, and senior European Union officials, expressed concern over the proposal’s military provisions, warning that the terms "would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack."
Following the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the outcome as reflecting "tremendous" progress. Speaking to reporters, Rubio said that the negotiations had advanced "in a very substantial way," particularly in narrowing areas of disagreement.
"I can tell you that the items that remain open are not insurmountable," he added, expressing confidence that a final deal is within reach. "I honestly believe we’ll get there."
Rubio emphasized that any final agreement would need to be approved by the presidents of both countries, noting that "there are a couple of issues that we need to continue to work on" before presenting the terms to Russia, which has previously responded positively to the initial draft.
"Obviously, the Russians get a vote," Rubio said, acknowledging Moscow’s expected role in the eventual settlement. Andriy Yermak, who led the Ukrainian delegation, echoed Rubio's sentiment, telling reporters that the sides had made "very good progress" during the day-long discussions.
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Earlier reports indicated that Zelenskyy may travel to the United States, depending on the outcome of the Geneva peace talks. The visit would align with Trump’s stated goal of securing a peace agreement by Thanksgiving.
Sources familiar with the discussions told CBS News that the decision hinges on progress in the negotiations over the 28-point U.S. peace proposal, which calls for Ukraine to concede territory, scale back its military, and abandon its NATO membership bid.
While no final travel plans had been confirmed, officials noted that U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll may also engage with Russian counterparts if talks continue. Trump, meanwhile, publicly criticized Ukraine’s leadership for showing "zero gratitude" and set a Thursday deadline for Zelenskyy’s response.
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