Donald Trump wants a peace deal in Ukraine very badly. Kyiv wants peace even more, just not at any cost. That's why when the US began pushing it to agree to a deal by Thanksgiving on what looked close to surrender terms, Ukraine pushed back. It scrambled senior officials to talks in Geneva, and all of Sunday we saw delegates from the US and Ukraine shuttling back and forth between the two main venues in black limousines with darkened windows.
Joined by national security advisers from Germany, France, and the UK, tensions were visible as Andriy Yermak, heading the negotiating team from Kyiv, appeared stony-faced. Initially, the proposals on the table were skewed towards Russia's demands, leading the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deny that the outlines came from the Kremlin.
Despite pressure from Trump for an expedited agreement, the talks continued, and by Sunday night, Rubio declared there had been tremendous progress with only a few key issues remaining. A joint statement from Ukraine and the US hinted at an updated and revised framework document, though specifics were still lacking.
As discussions advanced, the original draft was reportedly modified, with Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya revealing a new 19-point plan that had significantly diverged from its pro-Russian predecessor. The revised document appears to remove critical stipulations, including automatic veto on Ukrainian NATO membership and caps on troop numbers.
The latest proposal does, however, include vital security guarantees which have been an unwavering requirement for Ukraine. Officials have mentioned support resembling Article 5 of NATO, suggesting the US would defend Ukraine in future conflicts with Russia.
Despite the optimism expressed by certain officials including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, uncertainties linger, particularly regarding Russia's willingness to engage seriously in the negotiations. Analysts suggest that while Trump's influence may have revitalized discussions, the path forward remains fraught with obstacles.
Joined by national security advisers from Germany, France, and the UK, tensions were visible as Andriy Yermak, heading the negotiating team from Kyiv, appeared stony-faced. Initially, the proposals on the table were skewed towards Russia's demands, leading the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deny that the outlines came from the Kremlin.
Despite pressure from Trump for an expedited agreement, the talks continued, and by Sunday night, Rubio declared there had been tremendous progress with only a few key issues remaining. A joint statement from Ukraine and the US hinted at an updated and revised framework document, though specifics were still lacking.
As discussions advanced, the original draft was reportedly modified, with Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya revealing a new 19-point plan that had significantly diverged from its pro-Russian predecessor. The revised document appears to remove critical stipulations, including automatic veto on Ukrainian NATO membership and caps on troop numbers.
The latest proposal does, however, include vital security guarantees which have been an unwavering requirement for Ukraine. Officials have mentioned support resembling Article 5 of NATO, suggesting the US would defend Ukraine in future conflicts with Russia.
Despite the optimism expressed by certain officials including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, uncertainties linger, particularly regarding Russia's willingness to engage seriously in the negotiations. Analysts suggest that while Trump's influence may have revitalized discussions, the path forward remains fraught with obstacles.
