Kyiv has announced that Ukraine and the United States will soon convene in Switzerland to discuss Washington's controversial proposal for ending the nearly four-year conflict with Russia. The development comes as U.S. President Donald Trump presented Ukraine with an urgent deadline of less than one week to approve his comprehensive 28-point peace plan.
The Trump Administration's Demands
The proposed agreement would require Ukraine to make significant concessions, including ceding occupied territories to Russia, substantially reducing its military forces, and formally pledging to never pursue NATO membership. This plan represents some of Moscow's longstanding demands in the conflict.
Ukrainian officials confirmed the upcoming diplomatic engagement through Rustem Umerov, a key member of Ukraine's negotiation team. "In the coming days in Switzerland we are launching consultations between senior officials of Ukraine and the United States on the possible parameters of a future peace agreement," Umerov stated in a social media announcement.
European Allies Scramble for Response
Meanwhile, at the G20 summit in South Africa, Ukraine's European partners found themselves excluded from the drafting process and are now urgently developing an alternative proposal. The European response aims to strengthen Kyiv's negotiating position against what many consider unfavorable terms in the American plan.
The coordination effort involved high-level meetings between French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Notably, the United States chose to boycott the G20 gathering, further complicating diplomatic efforts.
Starmer emphasized the collaborative nature of the European response, stating their objective was to "look at how we can strengthen this plan for the next phase of negotiations."
Ukraine's Negotiating Team Takes Shape
According to a presidential decree issued Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed his top aide, Andriy Yermak, to lead the negotiation team. Umerov, who previously served as defense minister and now holds the position of Security Council Secretary, will also play a crucial role.
Umerov brings previous negotiation experience to the table, having led several rounds of talks with Russian representatives in Turkey, though those discussions failed to produce any significant breakthroughs.
The presidential decree notably indicated that the upcoming Switzerland talks would also include "representatives of the Russian Federation," though Moscow has not yet confirmed its participation.
As the diplomatic maneuvering intensifies, G20 leaders issued a joint declaration calling for a "just, comprehensive, and lasting peace" not only in Ukraine but also addressing conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
President Macron struck a somber note during the summit, suggesting that "the G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle" as the international body struggles to effectively resolve major global crises, particularly referencing the new unilateral American approach to ending the Ukraine conflict.
