US and Ukraine finalize "updated framework" for peace deal following Geneva talks
The United States and Ukraine announced the finalization of an "updated framework document" regarding a potential peace agreement following negotiations held Sunday in Geneva.
The announcement was made via synchronized statements published on the websites of the White House and the Ukrainian Presidency, though the specific content of the document has not yet been disclosed.
According to the joint statement, discussions were "productive," with both parties agreeing that any future deal must fully respect Ukraine's sovereignty and provide for "a just and lasting peace." Washington and Kyiv are set to continue "intensive work" in the coming days and will coordinate positions with European partners.
Shift from the "Miami Plan"
The Geneva consultations took place against a backdrop of controversy generated by the first draft of the American plan. That initial version reportedly outlined major concessions to Russia, including troop withdrawals from the Donbas, significant military reductions, the abandonment of long-range weapons, and the renunciation of NATO membership. That 28-point document had been drafted in October during a meeting in Miami attended by advisor Jared Kushner, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian official under US sanctions.
Sources cited by Reuters and dpa indicate that European proposals to amend the plan have significantly softened the conditions imposed on Ukraine. Kyiv would no longer be required to cede territory it currently controls, nor does the plan provide for the de facto recognition of Russian-occupied zones. Furthermore, European representatives have requested security guarantees similar to Article 5 of NATO, provided by the United States.
Rubio: "We are very close to a result"
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the US delegation in Geneva, stated that the revised version of the plan has "high potential" for implementation. He described the resulting document as "a solid basis" for subsequent negotiations.
"We are very optimistic that we will reach the objective within a reasonable timeframe, very soon. We just need a little more time than we had today," Rubio said, adding that several sensitive issues remain to be clarified, including the roles of the European Union and NATO in the future security mechanism.
Rubio suggested that President Volodymyr Zelensky could discuss final details directly with President Donald Trump. However, the American official insisted that Russia must also be consulted. "Obviously, the Russians have a say here, don't they?"
Rubio returned to Washington shortly after the text of the joint statement was finalized.
It is worth noting that prior to the Geneva meeting, President Donald Trump had publicly criticized Ukraine's "lack of gratitude" for the efforts invested in drafting the initial plan. In response, the Zelensky administration emphasized in the official communiqué that "the Ukrainian delegation once again expressed its gratitude to the United States and personally to President Donald J. Trump."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
