Senior officials from Ukraine, the United States, the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom have convened in Geneva to negotiate a potential path toward ending the ongoing conflict with Russia, now in its fourth year. The talks focus on a 28-point plan proposed by Washington, which has drawn both criticism and cautious attention from all sides.

US Peace Plan Controversy

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the American delegation on behalf of President Donald Trump. Ahead of the Geneva talks, Rubio emphasized that the proposal was authored in the United States, based on both Ukrainian input and previous Russian communications.

“It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations,” Rubio wrote on X. “It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.”

Rubio’s remarks came in response to claims by a bipartisan group of veteran US senators who suggested the plan functions more as a Russian “wish list” rather than a genuine American proposal. Republican Senator Mike Rounds said the draft appeared “more like it was written in Russian,” while State Department deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott labeled the accusation “blatantly false.”

Critics argue that the plan would reward Russian aggression, impose military limitations on Ukraine, and require Ukraine to cede territory, raising fears of long-term vulnerability.

Ukraine’s Position

Ukraine’s delegation, led by Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, has approached the talks cautiously. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of working calmly with Washington and European allies, calling this moment “truly one of the most difficult moments in our history.”

While the plan stresses Ukrainian sovereignty and includes security guarantees against future attacks, it also proposes limitations on Ukraine’s military capabilities, a point of concern for Kyiv and its European allies. France, the UK, and Germany, collectively known as the E3, are participating with their national security advisers to ensure Ukraine’s security needs are adequately addressed.

Russian Reaction

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for the US proposal on Friday, suggesting it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement” if Ukraine and its European allies agree. Meanwhile, intense fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, particularly in Zaporizhia and Donetsk in the Donbas region, where Russian forces seek to consolidate territorial control. Ukrainian forces continue airstrikes targeting Russian oil and fuel infrastructure in response.

The Path Ahead

The Geneva talks mark a critical diplomatic effort to reconcile the divergent interests of Ukraine, the US, and European allies with Russia’s stated objectives. Despite skepticism and criticism, diplomats are cautiously moving forward, seeking a compromise that could halt the conflict while preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and long-term security.

Observers note that the outcome of these negotiations could have major implications for the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, European security, and US foreign policy influence in the region.