Rubio hails ‘tremendous progress’ at Ukraine peace talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a “tremendous amount of progress” had been made in talks aimed at finalizing the peace plan proposed by the United States to end the Russian-Ukrainian war.

“But there is still some work to be done,” Rubio said after meeting with Ukrainian and European negotiators in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there were “signs indicating that Pres [Donald] Trump’s team hears us.

Ukraine and its European allies expressed concern over the leaked proposals, which were seen as biased towards Russia and were welcomed by Vladimir Putin as the “basis” for a settlement. Zelensky said that Ukraine “may face a very difficult choice: either lose dignity, or risk losing a key partner.”

Speaking to reporters late Sunday, Rubio said the negotiating teams in Geneva had a “very good day.”

He said the main goal was to try to narrow the “open items” of the US 28-point plan – and the parties involved had achieved this in a “substantial way”.

However, the top US diplomat added that any final agreement would have to be approved by the Ukrainian and US presidents – before the package is sent to Russia – and that there were still some issues they had to continue to work on.

Several media outlets reported that they had seen an alternative plan from Kiev’s European allies led by the United Kingdom, France and Germany. The BBC did not see the document, and Rubio denied any knowledge of its existence.

Earlier on Sunday, Trump accused Ukraine’s leaders of showing “lack of gratitude” for US efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The US President also noted that Europe – where Kiev has some of its strongest allies – continues to buy oil from Russia.

Moscow relies heavily on its oil and gas exports to continue financing its war in Ukraine.

The Geneva talks focus on the American draft, the leaked version of which includes the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the eastern part of the Donetsk region that they currently control, and Russia’s actual control over Donetsk, as well as the neighboring Luhansk region in addition to the southern Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.

The plan also includes freezing the borders of the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions in southern Ukraine along the current battle lines. Both regions are partly occupied by Russia.

The American plan also sets the number of Ukrainian army personnel at 600,000, compared to about 880,000 currently.

Crucially, the draft includes a pledge for Ukraine not to seek NATO membership. Instead, Kiev will receive “reliable security guarantees”, details of which have not been revealed.

The document says it is “expected” that Russia will not invade its neighbors and that NATO will not expand further.

The draft also suggests that Russia will be “reintegrated into the global economy” by lifting sanctions and inviting Russia to join the G7 of the world’s most powerful countries – making it the G8 again.

Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, and its forces are making slow progress along the vast frontline, despite heavy reported losses.

Trump gave Ukraine until next Thursday to agree to the proposals.

But he then said this was not his “last offer” to Kiev after Ukraine’s allies in Europe, Canada and Japan expressed concerns.

Rubio told reporters on Sunday that he was “very optimistic that we’ll get there in a very reasonable amount of time very soon,” whether it’s Thursday, other days or Monday of the following week.