Ukraine meets with US officials for crucial talks in Geneva

2025-11-23 12:12:01, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ukrainian officials are expected to meet with their American counterparts in Geneva today to elaborate on US President Donald Trump's 28-point peace plan, which Kiev's allies say is heavily pro-Russian.

Ukraine's European backers - led by Britain, France and Germany, the so-called E3 - have expressed concern about the plan, which has not yet been officially made public, although key elements of it have been revealed.

Many of the terms of the agreement require major concessions from Kiev and appear to reflect many of the Kremlin's demands, including the handover of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk - known as Donbas - and Crimea, as well as placing limits on the size of the Ukrainian army.

Kiev would also be forced to amend its Constitution to ban NATO membership, while restrictions would also be placed on the Western military alliance itself regarding the deployment of its troops.

Financial sanctions against Moscow would be eased, according to the plan.

In return, Ukraine would receive some form of “security guarantees,” primarily from the United States, be allowed to join the European Union, and benefit from certain financial advantages.

Russia would also be forced to withdraw from some areas of Ukraine that it currently occupies.

Amid opposition from US lawmakers and foreign allies, Trump on November 22 left open the possibility that the plan could be changed.

Asked by reporters if his proposal was the "final offer to Ukraine," Trump said: "No."

"We are trying to end [the war]. One way or another, we have to end it," he added.

Ukraine's European allies, who were not involved in drafting the US plan, have said the proposal requires "additional work".

In a joint statement, the leaders of Britain, Germany, France, Spain and Italy, along with senior EU officials and the leaders of Japan and Canada, warned that borders "must not be changed by force."

They raised concerns that the proposed restrictions on the Ukrainian military would leave the country vulnerable to any future attack.

Separately, the grouping of eight Baltic states said they had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reaffirm support for Kiev and pledged to continue arms supplies while strengthening Europe's defenses to deter further Russian aggression.

In a joint statement, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden said: "Russia has so far not committed to a ceasefire or steps towards peace."

Meanwhile, officials in Russia and Ukraine reported new attacks on November 23.

An 11-year-old girl was among 19 people injured by drone strikes in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, said Vladislav Haivanenko, head of the regional military administration.

Moscow's Vnukovo Airport suspended flights after the city's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, reported approaching Ukrainian drones.

Zelensky has said his country is experiencing "one of the most difficult moments" in its history, warning that it risks losing one of its key allies - Washington - but that Kiev will not "betray" its interests in any negotiations.

Zelensky appointed his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, as chief negotiator and head of a nine-member team in Geneva. The head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, is also part of the delegation.

It was also reported that Germany, Britain and France will ask Washington in the talks to revise its peace plan and that they have already sent the Americans their proposals for changes./REL