Washington, Kyiv Insist Any Russia Peace Deal Must Protect Ukraine’s Sovereignty After ‘Constructive’ Geneva Talks

Washington and Kyiv emphasized Sunday that any eventual agreement to end the war with Russia must fully safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty, following a day of “constructive” US-Ukraine-EU talks in Geneva.

The discussions — triggered by a US peace proposal widely criticized for favoring Moscow — produced “an updated and refined peace framework,” according to a joint US-Ukraine statement. President Donald Trump had given Kyiv until November 27 to approve his plan, which initially required Ukraine to cede territory, shrink its military, and forswear NATO membership.

Despite those contentious points, both sides reported “meaningful progress” and pledged to keep refining joint proposals in the coming days.

The White House hailed a “significant step forward,” even as a Russian drone strike on Kharkiv killed four people, its mayor said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiators had made “tremendous” headway, calling the remaining disagreements “not insurmountable.” Rubio, joined by Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, added that any final deal must be approved by the presidents — and eventually by the Kremlin: “Obviously, the Russians get a vote.”

Trump, meanwhile, publicly complained that Ukraine had shown “zero gratitude” for US efforts. President Volodymyr Zelensky responded that Ukraine was “grateful” to the United States and to Trump personally for support “saving Ukrainian lives.”

Ukraine’s delegation said the latest US draft “already reflects most of Ukraine’s key priorities.”

European officials, excluded from the initial US plan, rushed to assert their role. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Ukraine’s “sovereign right to choose its own destiny” and the EU’s “centrality” must be reflected in any agreement.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Trump also spoke, agreeing on the need to work together “to bring about a just and lasting peace.”