The diplomats are currently holding talks in Geneva as the clock ticks down until the US president’s Thursday deadline for Kiev to accept his proposal.
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| Senior US and Ukrainian officials are holding discussions in Geneva, where EU officials are also present, on a new proposal aimed at advancing peace efforts in Ukraine on November 23, 2025 in Switzerland. © Photo by Beyza Binnur Donmez/Anadolu via Getty Images |
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, and special envoy Steve Witkoff are meeting now with Ukrainian officials at the American mission in Geneva as US President Donald Trump's deadline looms.
Kiev has reportedly been given until Thursday to accept the plan, with the possibility of extending the deadline in order to finalize the terms.
The sudden submission of the initiative to a politically weakened Zelensky, along with the release of an alleged draft of the text, has triggered immediate turmoil. Kiev’s European backers are now scrambling, with Western media calling their reaction an “emergency” response. Tensions are rising further as concerns grow over Zelensky’s ongoing corruption scandal.
The Kremlin has refused to engage in what it called “megaphone diplomacy,” following a series of vocal declarations of defiance from Brussels on Friday morning. European Council President Antonio Costa openly admitted that the EU had not been informed about the plan. Zelensky has also held an emergency call with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
24 November 2025
00:10 GMT
A member of the Ukrainian delegation has allegedly broken his pen during nervous talks with US delegation in Geneva, Ukrainian media reports.
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| Reportedly, it was Ukrainian Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Umerov. |
23 November 2025
23:08 GMT
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is part of the US delegation in Geneva, CNN wrote, turning attention to one of the photos from the meeting.
Kushner is believed to have played a key role in US diplomacy in the Middle East and elsewhere during Trump’s first and second terms.
22:31 GMT
Britain, France and Germany created a counter-proposal to the United States’ Ukraine peace plan, according to Reuters and CNN, citing European diplomatic sources.
One of the officials said the text was an accurate reflection of European bids to change the US draft proposal, but further alterations could have been made after talks in Geneva.
How the plan differs?
- – Counter-proposal for a softening of the language around restricting NATO in Europe.
- – Removal of territorial concessions mentioned (Donetsk and Luhansk). In the European plan, all recognitions of Russian control are removed.
- – Demand for a ceasefire before determining territorial swaps, and that the current front line be the basis for any future discussions.
- – Removal of the 100-day deadline for elections in Ukraine, instead saying elections will be held as soon as possible after the signing of the peace agreement.
- – Removal of all references to US-Russia investment structures, rooting that Russia pays to Ukraine.
- – Size of Ukraine’s military would be “capped at 800,000 in peacetime,” which is the amount of military personnel it currently has.
22:16 GMT
Trump is satisfied with the progress on the Ukrainian conflict settlement, Rubio said. The president was “very positive” after getting report from the Secretary of State following the talks in Geneva.
21:46 GMT
“The Russians get a vote here” and will be consulted in the next step toward peace settlement, Rubio said after Geneva talks with Ukrainian officials.
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| US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held second press briefing in the US mission in Geneva, Switzerland on November 23, 2025. © Photo by Muhammet Ikbal Arslan/Anadolu via Getty Images. |
However, he declined to get into the specifics on whether the Ukrainians have indicated they are prepared to compromise, given that it’s “an ongoing process.”
“This is a living, breathing document. Every day, with input, it changes… I can tell you that the items that remain open are not insurmountable. We just need more time than what we have today.”
Russia was not involved in Sunday’s talks.
21:33 GMT
US and Ukrainian officials are discussing a potential Zelensky visit to Washington as early as this week, according to Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The aim is to discuss “the most sensitive issues” of the peace plan proposed by Trump, such as the matter of territory.
There is no confirmed date for now, however.
20:52 GMT
Zelensky has said he believes there are signals that Trump’s team “is hearing us.”
Everyone is offering support, giving advice, providing information — and I am grateful to each and every person who is giving this help to us, to Ukraine. It is important to ensure that the steps to end the war are effective, and that everything is doable. Ukraine has never… pic.twitter.com/9PVteak2aA
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 23, 2025
“Today, talks are continuing in Switzerland. The teams will work practically into the night and there will be further reports,” he added in a video address.
”It is important that there is a conversation with American representatives and there are signals that President Trump’s team is hearing us,” Zelensky said.
20:34 GMT
Rubio has stated the US made progress in addressing unresolved questions on its draft plan to end the Ukraine conflict following a meeting with Kiev’s delegation in Geneva. According to the secretary of state, it is “possible” that Trump and Zelensky will have a phone conversation soon.
‘What counterplan? I haven't seen any counterplan’
— RT (@RT_com) November 23, 2025
Rubio hasn’t even heard of the EU’s ‘peace plan’
Brutal https://t.co/btNAqJRiL3 pic.twitter.com/HrcWAPfKc3
When asked about Europe’s counterproposals, Rubio answered, “I haven’t seen any counterplan.”
19:34 GMT
The American delegation has accused the Ukrainians of “leaking negative details about the plan in the US press,” Axios reporter Barak Ravid wrote, citing sources, after negotiations concluded in Geneva. “The Ukrainians agreed to issue a positive statement by one of their negotiators in order to clear the air,” he added.
🚨Behind the scenes: Two sources with knowledge of the talks said the upbeat statements by Rubio and Yermak came several hours after a tense meeting Sunday morning
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) November 23, 2025
🚨During the meeting, the American side accused the Ukrainians of leaking negative details about the plan in the… https://t.co/rHGy0Ht6GE
19:14 GMT
Zelensky reiterated his call for a “dignified” peace as US and Ukrainian delegations wrapped up their talks in Geneva.
The Ukrainian leader also said he was grateful to President Donald Trump and European leaders for discussing the US-proposed peace deal, just hours after Trump lashed out at Kiev for being ungrateful for his efforts.
“It is important not to forget the main goal – to stop Russia’s war and prevent it from ever igniting again. And to achieve that, peace must be dignified,” Zelensky said. “That is why we work so carefully on every point, on every step toward peace. Everything must work out the right way – so that this war is truly ended and so that it does not happen again.”
