US Secretary of State Rubio is "very optimistic" after talks with representatives from Ukraine, the US, and Europe about a plan to end Russia's war of aggression. He believes an agreement is imminent.
According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, negotiations in Geneva on a US plan to end the war in Ukraine have made"enormous progress." A foundational document has been drafted and contentious issues have been narrowed down, Rubio said at a press conference following talks with Ukrainian representatives. The document is being continuously revised. He is"very optimistic" that an agreement can be reached "very soon." "Today was the most productive day we have had so far," the US Secretary of State said.
Among the remaining open questions are, for example, the future roles of the EU and NATO, and what security guarantees Ukraine will receive. Despite repeated inquiries, Rubio declined to provide further details. However, he stated that none of the unresolved issues were insurmountable. Some were semantic in nature, while others concerned a higher level of decision-making.
Regarding the next steps, Rubio said in the evening:"Ultimately, our presidents have to agree to it, but I am very confident that will happen, given the progress we have made." The Russian side also has to agree to the plan. When asked about a deadline, the US Secretary of State only gave a vague answer: Ideally, they want to reach an agreement by Thursday – perhaps earlier or later, Rubio said.
Rubio: In the end, the presidents have to agree.
Delegations from the US, Ukraine and several European states, including Germany, began negotiations in Geneva on Sunday regarding the 28-point plan presented by the US to end the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assessed the talks in Geneva as positive."There are signals that President Trump's team is listening to us," he said in his evening video address.
The original plan is favorable to Russia.
In its original version, the plan makes significant concessions to Moscow on key demands and crosses long-standing red lines set by Kyiv. It requires painful concessions from Ukraine, such as the cession of large areas in eastern Ukraine to Russia, a limitation on troop numbers, and the abandonment of NATO membership. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy rejected the initial draft of the US plan on Friday and announced that he would present"alternatives." The Europeans also demanded revisions.
Ukrainian Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak spoke of"good progress" in the Geneva talks early in the evening. According to the head of the Ukrainian Security Council, Rustem Umerov, a revised version of the plan now incorporates"some of Ukraine's most important priorities."
Trump accuses Ukraine of lacking gratitude
Shortly before the meeting, Trump accused Ukraine of lacking gratitude for US military aid in a lengthy post on his platform TruthSocial on Sunday. He made no criticism of Russia. Trump also lashed out at US allies in Europe."The Ukrainian 'leadership' has shown no gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia," he wrote.
Following the publication of Trump's post, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy emphasized his gratitude for the US-led security efforts."The crux of the entire diplomatic situation is that Russia, and only Russia, started this war," he added.
