The White House has announced that only a couple of points of disagreement now stand in the way of a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. This development follows intensive discussions held in Geneva on Sunday, which resulted in a refined peace framework being drafted by the US and Ukraine.
Narrowing the Gap on a 28-Point Plan
Speaking on Monday night, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed the narrowing scope of the disagreements. "There is a sense of urgency," she stated, adding that US President Donald Trump "wants to see this deal come together, and to see this war end." The revised plan, once finalised, would need to be presented to Russian officials.
The negotiations have revolved around two competing 28-point proposals. The initial plan, backed by the US, was followed by a counter-proposal from Ukraine's European allies. This European version suggested halting the fighting at the current front lines, deferring territorial discussions, and including a NATO-style US security guarantee for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the progress, noting that "after Geneva, there are fewer points - no longer 28". He emphasised that while many right elements are now included, "there is still work for all of us to do together to finalise the document."
International Diplomacy and Tightening Timelines
The peace process has been a focal point of international diplomacy. On Monday, President Trump held a phone call with China's President Xi Jinping, where they discussed bringing the Ukraine war to an end. According to Chinese state media, President Xi urged "all parties" to "reduce differences" and reiterated China's support for peace efforts.
Domestically, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that Ukraine's allies in the coalition of the willing would hold video discussions about the negotiations on Tuesday.
President Trump's approach has been marked by public pressure. He had previously accused Ukrainian leadership of showing "ZERO GRATITUDE" for US support and had given Ukraine until Thursday to agree to the plan. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later downplayed this deadline, indicating that officials could continue negotiating beyond it.
A Cautious Path Forward
Despite the significant hurdles that remain, including Moscow's rejection of the European counter-proposal, there are glimmers of cautious optimism. In a message on his Truth Social platform, President Trump questioned, "Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine???" He advised followers not to believe it until they see it, but conceded that "something good just may be happening."
The coming days are critical as diplomats work to resolve the final points of contention. The world watches to see if the refined framework can form the basis for a lasting end to the conflict, a goal that now appears closer than it has in recent months.
