US and Ukraine Report Major Breakthrough in Geneva Peace Talks

In Geneva, the US and Ukraine reported significant progress in developing the American plan to end the war, calling the latest negotiations the most successful in the entire process.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to Reuters.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that during a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva, real progress was made on the US plan to end the war in Ukraine. According to him, it was the “best meeting” since the new administration took office in January, indicating a noticeable rapprochement between Kyiv and Washington.

"So I think the takeaway from it is, I think this is a very, very meaningful, I would say, probably best meeting and day we've had so far in this entire process, going back to when we first came to office in January," said Rubio.

Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, also described the meeting as highly productive with strong progress toward a just and lasting peace. He added that a second meeting will take place later today with the involvement of European partners, while final decisions will ultimately be made by the presidents of both countries.

The talks took place as Trump publicly accused Ukraine of showing “zero gratitude” for American assistance during the war. In response, Ukrainian officials emphasized their appreciation, with Andriy Yermak reiterating Ukraine’s gratitude during the Geneva meetings. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also issued a statement thanking the United States, “every American heart,” and Trump personally, noting that U.S. weapons — starting with Javelin missiles — have saved Ukrainian lives.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President held a call with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a sustainable peace. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian and international teams continue negotiations in Geneva, where the priority is to secure practical results that would bring Ukraine and Europe closer to lasting peace and security. 

The President stressed that Ukraine hopes its allies will take its arguments into account as discussions progress and added that Ukraine expects new updates from its delegations currently working in Switzerland.

"It is important not to forget the main goal – to stop the Russian war and prevent it from reigniting. And for this to happen, peace must be worthwhile," he emphasized.

Zelenskyy also addressed the situation on the battlefield, noting that Russia continues to deploy very young soldiers into assaults, many of whom were still in school at the start of the conflict in 2014. He argued that the Kremlin aims to prolong the war and preserve its ability to wage aggression not only against Ukraine but potentially against other countries in the future. 

"The nature of the war and Russia's attempts to prolong it show that for them it is not about territory, not about how one or another of Russia's neighbors behaves, but about Russia's “right to war,” its “right to subjugate” others, and a fundamental lack of security," Ukrainian leader stated.

The President also expressed appreciation to EU states, the G7, and the G20 for their continued backing. He reaffirmed that Ukraine’s ultimate goal is to stop Russian aggression and prevent its recurrence. 

In recent days, Ukraine has been reviewing a draft U.S. peace plan aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year-old full-scale invasion. The 28-point proposal, delivered to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier in the week, called for major concessions, including the transfer of the remaining occupied areas of eastern Donbas to Russia, sharp reductions in Ukraine’s armed forces, limits on long-range missiles, and a halt to most U.S. military assistance. It also proposed political and cultural provisions such as recognising Russian as a state language and granting official status to the Russian Orthodox Church. 

The plan has generated strong concern in Kyiv and European capitals. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have rejected core elements of the proposal, stressing that Ukraine must retain its ability to defend itself and that any settlement cannot legitimise Russian territorial gains or impose neutrality on Kyiv. 

EU leaders have insisted that Europe must be fully involved in shaping any agreement that would affect European security, arguing that peace cannot be built on concessions to an aggressor that continues to strike civilian targets.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the European Union has drawn clear “red lines” in response to the peace plan proposed by the United States, stressing that any agreement must respect Ukraine's sovereignty and security. 

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