US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, and special envoy Steve Witkoff are meeting now with Ukrainian officials at the American mission in Geneva as US President Donald Trump's deadline looms.
Kiev has reportedly been given until Thursday to accept the plan, with the possibility of extending the deadline in order to finalize the terms.
The sudden submission of the initiative to a politically weakened Zelensky, along with the release of an alleged draft of the text, has triggered immediate turmoil. Kiev’s European backers are now scrambling, with Western media calling their reaction an “emergency” response. Tensions are rising further as concerns grow over Zelensky’s ongoing corruption scandal.
The Kremlin has refused to engage in what it called “megaphone diplomacy,” following a series of vocal declarations of defiance from Brussels on Friday morning. European Council President Antonio Costa openly admitted that the EU had not been informed about the plan. Zelensky has also held an emergency call with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
22:31 GMT
Britain, France and Germany created a counter-proposal to the United States’ Ukraine peace plan, according to Reuters and CNN, citing European diplomatic sources.
One of the officials said the text was an accurate reflection of European bids to change the US draft proposal, but further alterations could have been made after talks in Geneva.
How the plan differs?
– Counter-proposal for a softening of the language around restricting NATO in Europe.
– Removal of territorial concessions mentioned (Donetsk and Luhansk). In the European plan, all recognitions of Russian control are removed.
– Demand for a ceasefire before determining territorial swaps, and that the current front line be the basis for any future discussions.
– Removal of the 100-day deadline for elections in Ukraine, instead saying elections will be held as soon as possible after the signing of the peace agreement.
– Removal of all references to US-Russia investment structures, rooting that Russia pays to Ukraine.
– Size of Ukraine’s military would be “capped at 800,000 in peacetime,”which is the amount of military personnel it currently has.
- 21:33 GMT
US and Ukrainian officials are discussing a potential Zelensky visit to Washington as early as this week, according to Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The aim is to discuss “the most sensitive issues” of the peace plan proposed by Trump, such as the matter of territory.
There is no confirmed date for now, however.
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