GENEVA — In a significant de-escalation of tensions, the United States and Ukraine have announced the drafting of a newly "updated and refined" peace framework following intense negotiations in Geneva.
The breakthrough marks a stark departure from the hostile rhetoric of recent days, signaling that Washington may be stepping back from its initial "take-it-or-leave-it" approach. Both delegations described the high-stakes meeting as “constructive, focused, and mutually respectful”—a sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s social media post just hours earlier, in which he accused Kyiv’s leadership of being “ungrateful.”
While final decisions remain in the hands of President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Geneva talks have produced a document that Kyiv now says reflects its national interests and offers binding mechanisms for long-term security.
Addressing Kyiv’s Core Concerns
According to U.S. officials, the new draft systematically addresses the "core concerns" that led Ukraine to reject the initial American proposal. These include:
Security Guarantees: Concrete assurances rather than vague promises.
Economic Sovereignty: Pathways for long-term economic development and protection of critical infrastructure.
Political Sovereignty: Freedom of navigation and political independence.
"We have made meaningful progress in narrowing our differences," the joint statement read. The Ukrainian delegation publicly thanked the United States for its support, smoothing over the cracks that had appeared in the alliance over the weekend.
The Deadline is Dropped
Perhaps the most significant concession from Washington is the relaxation of the ultimatum.
Senator Marco Rubio, acknowledging that while some hurdles remain "not insurmountable," confirmed that the United States has walked back its demand for Ukraine to accept the deal by Thanksgiving (November 27). The new goal is to reach an agreement "as soon as possible," removing the gun from Kyiv's head.
The talks included high-profile figures such as Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Pentagon official Daniel Driscoll, underscoring the gravity the Trump administration is placing on these negotiations.
The "European Rescue": Fixing a Flawed Plan
The shift in Washington’s stance appears to be heavily influenced by European intervention. The initial 28-point U.S. plan—which demanded Ukraine cut its military to 600,000 troops, renounce NATO forever, and cede vast territories—triggered outrage in European capitals. Many U.S. lawmakers even criticized the original draft, with some noting it looked as if it had been "translated from Russian."
In response, representatives from France, Germany, the UK, and the EU arrived in Geneva with a "counter-proposal." This 24-point European plan significantly altered the terms:
Troop Levels: Raised the cap on the Ukrainian military to 800,000 personnel in peacetime (up from the restrictive 600,000).
The NATO Question: Removed the explicit ban on Ukraine joining NATO. Instead, accession would depend on alliance consensus.
Territorial Integrity: Refused to recognize Russian sovereignty over Donetsk, Luhansk, or Crimea (unlike the initial US-Russia plan). While Russia would maintain de facto control for now, the status would be subject to future negotiation.
Security Guarantees: Added "Article 5-style" security guarantees backed by the U.S. and Europe.
Nuclear Safety: Proposed international management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, with electricity shared by both sides.
Crucially, the European revisions prioritize a "ceasefire first, negotiate territory later" approach based on the current line of contact—a sequence Moscow has historically rejected.
Moscow Gives the Cold Shoulder
Despite the progress in Geneva, the reaction from the Kremlin has been icy.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Russia has not yet received the official "refined" proposal, continuing to refer to the initiative solely as a "U.S. plan" while ignoring European and Ukrainian input.
Russian state media continues to broadcast Moscow’s maximalist demands:
A permanent ban on Ukraine joining NATO.
Western recognition of Crimea and the Donbas as Russian territory.
Full Ukrainian withdrawal from regions Russia claims but does not fully occupy.
Hardliners in Moscow are already criticizing the potential deal as "not tough enough," with Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov stating that Russia cannot alter the conditions set by Putin.
The Battlefield Reality
The diplomatic maneuvering is happening against a grim backdrop. Russia is intensifying its offensive in the Donbas, specifically around Pokrovsk, and expanding operations in Zaporizhzhia.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), at Russia's current grinding pace, it would take until 2027 to capture the remainder of the Donetsk region. However, Moscow is betting on a difficult winter, ramping up attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to force concessions.
A Lesson for Europe
The events of the last few days have served as a wake-up call for the continent. For the third time this year, Washington floated a proposal viewed as "soft on Russia," only to walk it back after fierce pushback.
The conclusion in European capitals is becoming clear: Europe can no longer rely solely on the stability of American foreign policy, yet it remains unprepared to fully shoulder the burden of Ukraine’s security alone.
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Note: A detailed comparison between the original U.S. proposal and the European counter-proposal will be published in a separate article.