US and Ukrainian negotiators have drawn up an “updated and refined peace framework”, and plan to continue work on a peace plan over the coming days, the countries announced on Sunday.
A joint statement said talks on a US-backed plan in Geneva, which are now understood to have concluded, were “highly productive”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been a “tremendous amount of progress” on honing the plan, but there was “still some work to be done” before a final agreement could be put to Russia.
The plan’s original draft, details of which were leaked last week, was cautiously welcomed by Russia, but not by leaders in Kyiv and Europe, who saw it as too favourable to the Kremlin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday that Moscow has not yet received any information about the outcome of the US-Ukraine talks in Geneva.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there were “signals that President [Donald] Trump’s team is hearing us”.
Addressing the Swedish parliament on Monday morning, Zelensky called it a “critical moment” for Ukraine.
“Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen, to break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty. That’s the main problem,” he said, adding that the Russian president wants it not only from Ukraine “but from the whole world”.
He explained that Ukraine has managed to keep “sensitive points”, such as the release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war, on the table during the talks as he said there is still more to do to achieve “real peace”.
Speaking to reporters late on Sunday, Rubio said the negotiating teams in Geneva had had a “very good day”.
He said the main goal had been to try to narrow “open items” from the 28-point US plan, and that the parties involved had achieved that in a “substantial way”.
However, America’s top diplomat said any final agreement would have to be agreed by the Ukrainian and US presidents before it could be put to Russia, and that there were still some issues being negotiated.
Positive accounts of the meeting came hours after Trump accused Ukraine’s leaders of showing “zero gratitude” for US efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The US president also pointed out that Europe – where Kyiv has some of its most loyal allies – was continuing to buy oil from Russia. Moscow relies heavily on its oil and gas exports to continue financing its war in Ukraine.
European leaders have noted that progress was made in Sunday’s talks but also said that more work is needed.
In a post on X on Monday, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said he spoke with President Zelensky on Monday morning.
“The negotiations were a step forward, but there are still major issues which remain to be resolved,” Stubb said.
“Any decision falling in the remit of EU or Nato will be discussed and decided by EU and Nato members in a separate track.”
Separately, according to comments reported by the Reuters news agency, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Deutschlandfunk radio that the meetings were a “decisive success” for Europeans – with issues relating to Europe, and Nato, removed from the plan.
“It was clear from the outset, as we have repeatedly said, that any agreement must not be reached over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians,” he added.
European Council President Antonio Costa also spoke with Zelensky on Monday morning.
“A united and coordinated EU position is key in ensuring a good outcome of peace negotiations – for Ukraine and for Europe,” he said in a post on X.
Several media outlets, including Reuters news agency, reported the text of an alternative plan to end the war drafted by Kyiv’s European allies, lead by the UK, France and Germany. The BBC has not independently verified its contents and Rubio denied any knowledge of its existence.
