High-level Western officials are gathering in Geneva for emergency talks this Sunday to discuss a controversial US draft plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine, a proposal that has been met with significant concern in Kyiv and European capitals.
The Controversial US Proposal
The 28-point draft plan, which was unexpectedly leaked last week, contains several provisions that Ukrainian officials had previously ruled out as unacceptable. Most notably, the proposal suggests that Ukraine should hand over areas of the eastern Donbas region to Russian control, despite Moscow launching the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Further contentious elements include requirements for Ukraine to limit its military capabilities and formally relinquish its longstanding ambition to join the NATO alliance. In exchange, the document mentions that Ukraine would receive what it describes as "reliable security guarantees," though it fails to specify the nature or enforceability of these assurances.
Washington has presented Kyiv with a strict deadline, demanding a response by this coming Thursday. However, Ukrainian officials are actively seeking substantial changes to the draft, which multiple European and Ukrainian sources have characterised as amounting to a "capitulation" to Russian demands.
Political Reactions and Tight Deadline
US President Donald Trump has weighed in on the developing situation, stating that the current proposal is "by far" not the "final offer," hinting that an extension to the response deadline might be possible. The President has repeatedly voiced his frustration with both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the perceived lack of progress in peace negotiations.
The urgency of the matter was underscored by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said his country confronts one of the most difficult moments in its entire history as it grapples with the proposed terms.
Emergency Geneva Meeting Convenes
In response to the leak and the ensuing diplomatic crisis, a meeting has been hastily arranged in Geneva for later today. National security advisers from the E3 nations – France, Britain, and Germany – are scheduled to meet with officials from the EU, the United States, and Ukraine for further critical discussions.
The American delegation will be represented by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Ukraine's team is being led by Andriy Yermak, the head of President Zelenskyy's office, and includes the country's top security officials.
This high-stakes diplomatic gathering will determine the next steps in a conflict that has gripped the international community for over two years, with the proposed US plan creating significant divisions among Western allies.
