U.S. and Ukraine Announce a “Refined” Peace Framework After Geneva Talks

The United States and Ukraine said Sunday that they had produced an “updated and refined peace framework” for ending the war with Russia after a day of talks in Geneva, but released almost no details, Al Jazeera and NBC News reported.

In a joint statement, officials said the consultations were “highly productive” and showed “meaningful progress toward aligning positions,” and that any deal should “fully uphold” Ukraine’s sovereignty, Al Jazeera reported. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the U.S. mission, “a tremendous amount of progress” had been made. NBC News quoted him calling it “probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far in this entire process.”

Mr. Rubio said negotiators had changed some parts of President Trump’s 28-point plan, including on the role of NATO, to narrow the gaps. “The items that remain open are not insurmountable. We just need more time than what we have today,” he said, Al Jazeera reported. He declined to say whether Kyiv had agreed to compromise on territory, which Al Jazeera noted is a key Russian demand.

The talks included Mr. Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, NBC News said, with Andriy Yermak representing Ukraine in photographs from the news conference.

The diplomacy was complicated by the president. Hours earlier Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social that Ukraine’s leadership had expressed “zero gratitude” for U.S. efforts. Mr. Zelenskyy responded on X that he was grateful to the U.S. and “personally to President Trump” for helping Ukraine repel the invasion, Al Jazeera reported. NBC News said the post landed as U.S. officials in Geneva were working to show a united front.

The administration is pressing Kyiv to accept the plan by Thanksgiving, NBC News reported. NBC News said confusion over who wrote the plan and concern from European allies and U.S. lawmakers have raised questions about whose interests it serves. Al Jazeera said the leaked blueprint caused concern in Kyiv and European capitals because it aligned with many Moscow demands, such as limiting Ukraine’s military and giving up Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that any plan must respect Ukraine’s freedom to “choose its own destiny,” including joining the European Union, Al Jazeera reported. Mr. Zelenskyy had said in a national address the previous week that the plan forced a choice between “losing dignity” and “losing a key partner.”