Rubio Leads Diplomatic Efforts in Geneva as Ukraine Faces Critical Peace Negotiations

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Geneva on Sunday morning to engage in talks concerning a U.S. proposal aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This comes after Washington indicated there was potential for negotiations regarding the contentious plan.

Former President Trump has given Ukraine a deadline of November 27 to consent to the proposal, which aims to resolve the nearly four-year war. However, Kyiv is advocating for modifications to a draft that concedes some of Russia’s stringent demands.

Rubio’s comments concerning the proposal have introduced significant uncertainty into the negotiation process. He touched down shortly before 9:30 am local time, as reported by AFP correspondents present.

Officials from Ukraine, Europe, and Canada were also convening in the Swiss city, although the structure of the discussions was not yet clarified.

The U.S. strategy to conclude the war has faced strong opposition from Kyiv, its allies, and members of Congress ahead of the Sunday meetings. The 28-point proposal includes stipulations that Ukraine relinquish territory it currently occupies, reduce its military, and commit to not joining NATO. Trump addressed the media on Saturday, indicating that this was not a definitive offer and expressing his intent to cease hostilities «one way or another.»

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, referred to the plan as “a work in progress” during an appearance on Fox News. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s European allies, who were not involved in crafting the proposal, stated that it needed further refinement, as they worked on a counter-proposal at the G20 summit in South Africa to bolster Ukraine’s stance.

At the same time, Washington affirmed on Saturday that the proposal reflected official U.S. policy, rejecting assertions from a group of senators that Rubio had described the document as a Russian “wish list.”

Rubio reinforced on social media late Saturday that “the peace proposal was created by the U.S.” He explained that it serves as a robust framework for ongoing discussions, incorporating feedback from both Russia and Ukraine.

U.S. officials participating in the discussions also include diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, with the Ukrainian team led by Andriy Yermak, a senior advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky stated, “Consultations will be held with partners regarding necessary steps to bring an end to the war.” He emphasized the capability of Ukraine’s representatives to safeguard the nation’s interests and to deter further Russian invasions, following Crimea’s annexation in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned that senior officials would meet in Geneva to advance discussions, underscoring the necessity for robust “security guarantees” for Ukraine as part of any agreement. Starmer confirmed that his national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, would attend, while Italian diplomatic sources indicated that national security advisor Fabrizio Saggio would be dispatched from Rome.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced at a G20 press conference that security officials from the EU, France, and Germany would also participate, and Canada’s national security advisor was expected to join as well. Alice Rufo, France’s deputy defense minister, stressed on French radio prior to traveling to Geneva that “Ukraine’s dignity and freedom cannot be compromised.”

Leaders from Western nations attending the G20 summit remarked that the U.S. proposal serves as a «foundation that requires further refinement.» They affirmed the principle that borders cannot be altered through force and expressed concerns about proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s military, which could leave the nation vulnerable to future aggression, according to a joint statement from key European countries, Canada, and Japan.

Macron noted that the plan includes issues that require broader discussions, such as Ukraine’s NATO relationships and Russian assets frozen in the EU. He also mentioned that the 30 nations in the «coalition of the willing» supporting Kyiv would conduct a video call on Tuesday following the Geneva discussions.

“We all desire peace and find common ground on that point. We want a lasting and sturdy peace,” he said, asserting that any resolution must consider the security of all Europeans.

In a national address on Friday, Zelensky remarked that Ukraine is at a critical juncture in its history and indicated he would propose “alternatives” to Trump’s plan. “The pressures on Ukraine are immense. We risk facing a tough choice: either compromise our dignity or jeopardize a key partnership,” he stated, referencing a potential rift with Washington.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the plan could “serve as a basis” for a final peace agreement, while also warning of potential further territorial acquisitions if Ukraine were to withdraw from the talks.