Ukraine’s negotiators met US officials in Washington under Trump’s pressure, and both sides reported meaningful progress on the proposed plan.
Rubio and Yermak met in Geneva on Sunday and issued a joint statement calling their consultations highly productive overall. Negotiators worked to revise the plan, which critics say favours Russia, and sought terms that Ukraine could reasonably consider accepting.
Trump promised last year to end the war quickly, yet he has failed despite achieving a temporary Gaza ceasefire previously.
He met Putin in Alaska, hoping for progress, but the initiative fizzled, and follow-up talks scheduled in Budapest were cancelled. Putin described Trump’s proposal as an updated version of earlier Alaska points, signalling continued Russian interest in negotiations overall.
Trump alternated harsh criticism between Russia and Ukraine, imposing sanctions on Moscow while increasing political pressure directly on Kyiv.
He gave Ukraine a Thursday deadline to accept the framework, though he later promised flexibility if talks advanced sufficiently. Trump insisted the 28-point proposal was not final and said he intended to end the war decisively soon.
Witkoff drafted the plan, allowing Russia territorial gains, limiting Ukraine’s military, and shutting the door on eventual NATO membership. Western allies objected strongly, arguing the plan rewarded aggression and created serious fractures within NATO and Trump’s Republican Party.
Ten global leaders publicly condemned the proposal, warning it left Ukraine dangerously vulnerable to future military attacks from Russia.
Macron consulted Zelensky and announced European leaders would meet on Tuesday to review the situation and coordinate unified responses.
McConnell criticised Trump’s advisors, saying they appeared too eager to appease Putin rather than secure a balanced peace. Trump then blasted Ukraine for showing insufficient gratitude and criticised Europeans for continuing to buy significant quantities of Russian oil.
Zelensky responded reassuringly, thanking Trump and Americans again, attempting to ease renewed tensions caused by Trump’s harsh remarks.
Rubio emphasised that Putin must agree to any deal, while Dmitriev met Witkoff in Miami for preliminary discussions. Despite difficulties, Putin said Russia welcomed the proposal’s flexibility and appeared more open to negotiations moving forward constructively.
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