The United States and Ukraine have agreed to continue intensive negotiations this week after developing a revised peace framework during talks in Geneva. The two nations are racing against a Thursday deadline to finalize an agreement that could potentially end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.
Revised Peace Framework Takes Shape
Following Sunday's discussions in Geneva, American and Ukrainian delegations announced they had drafted what they described as a "refined peace framework" to address the ongoing war with Russia. While specific details remain confidential, the White House confirmed that the Ukrainian delegation believes the updated proposal "reflects their national interests" and addresses their core strategic requirements.
The development comes after an initial 28-point proposal last week faced significant criticism for being too favorable toward Moscow. That earlier plan would have required Ukraine to cede territory, accept military limitations, and abandon its aspirations to join NATO - terms that many Ukrainians would view as capitulation after nearly four years of brutal conflict.
Political Pressure and Diplomatic Moves
U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained pressure on Ukraine to reach a settlement, complaining on Sunday that Ukraine had shown "zero gratitude" for American efforts. This prompted Ukrainian officials to publicly emphasize their appreciation for Trump's support.
Although Trump previously set a Thursday deadline for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to accept a peace plan, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated this deadline might be flexible. Rubio, who led the American delegation before returning to Washington Sunday evening, stated the timeline "might not be set in stone."
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Zelenskiy could travel to the United States as early as this week to discuss the most sensitive aspects of the plan directly with President Trump.
International Reactions and Complications
The original peace proposal surprised many U.S. officials and was reportedly crafted during an October meeting in Miami that included special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev - who remains under U.S. sanctions.
European allies, who were excluded from developing the initial plan, responded by releasing their own counter-proposal on Sunday. The European version would ease some territorial concessions and include a NATO-style security guarantee from the United States to protect Ukraine against future attacks.
The negotiations occur against a challenging backdrop for Ukraine. Russian forces have made gradual territorial gains while drone and missile attacks have devastated Ukraine's power and gas infrastructure, leaving millions without reliable water, heating, or electricity for hours daily.
Domestically, President Zelenskiy faces additional pressure from a major corruption scandal involving some of his ministers, complicating Ukraine's efforts to secure essential economic funding. However, Kyiv has found some encouragement in recent U.S. sanctions tightening against Russia's oil sector and successful long-range strikes damaging Russian energy infrastructure.
