Intense diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine are unfolding alongside a fresh wave of overnight attacks, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces his intention to hold direct talks with US President Donald Trump.
Diplomatic Push on a 28-Point Peace Plan
The Ukrainian leader stated he aims to discuss "the most delicate points" of a proposed peace plan with his American counterpart. This comes after US and Ukrainian officials engaged in discussions in Geneva concerning a controversial 28-point proposal initially drawn up by America and Russia.
Kyiv's European allies have since presented an amended counter-proposal, which Moscow has already signalled its opposition to. The European version would halt fighting at the current front lines, deferring territorial discussions, and include a NATO-style US security guarantee for Ukraine.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that a "couple of points of disagreement" remained as of Monday night but emphasised a "sense of urgency" to finalise an agreement. "The president wants to see this deal come together, and to see this war end," she added.
Overnight Violence and International Response
While diplomats talk, violence continues to rage. In the early hours of Tuesday 25 November 2025, Russian drone strikes hit Kyiv, killing at least two people, triggering fires in residential buildings, and forcing evacuations.
Meanwhile, the governor of Russia's Rostov region reported that a Ukrainian attack overnight killed three people and injured 10 more. The Russian defence ministry claimed to have downed 249 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions.
The conflict was also a topic in a call between President Trump and China's Xi Jinping on Monday. According to Chinese state media, Mr Xi urged "all parties" to "reduce differences" and reiterated China's support for peace efforts, despite the nation remaining a consistent ally of Russia.
Coalition of the Willing and Deadline Pressures
Ukraine's allies in the "coalition of the willing" are scheduled to hold a virtual meeting today, chaired by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Sir Keir stated the alliance is focused on achieving a "just and lasting peace," noting the conflict's direct impact on the UK.
President Trump had previously given Kyiv until Thursday to agree to the initial plan, but US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later downplayed this deadline, suggesting negotiations could continue. Mr Rubio also denied that the original plan was authored by Russia, despite it appearing to include several longstanding Kremlin demands.
