The United States pressured Ukraine to accept its proposal to end the conflict with Russia during weekend talks in Geneva, Switzerland, after the plan sparked criticism for being too favorable to Moscow, an official told AFP.
- Context: Washington and Kiev say the peace deal will preserve Ukraine’s “full sovereignty.”
Representatives of Ukraine, the United States and European countries met on Sunday in the Swiss city to discuss US President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war that began with the Russian invasion in 2022.
A senior official familiar with the negotiations told AFP on Monday (24) that the United States did not directly threaten to cut off aid to Ukraine if Kiev rejected the proposal, but its representatives understood that this was a possibility.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that although US pressure eased during the meeting, there was continued “public pressure.”
The original 28-point plan proposes that Ukraine cede the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk administrative regions and reduce the number of its army, demands that are unacceptable to Kiev.
The new version of the draft that was worked out in Geneva has not been published, but all parties agreed that any agreement must “respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.” The Kremlin announced on Monday that the amendments proposed by the Europeans were “not very constructive” and inappropriate.
On Monday evening, the White House, in turn, rejected criticism that Trump was favoring Russia in his efforts to end the conflict.
“The idea that the United States is not engaging both sides equally in this war to end it is a complete and total fallacy,” White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt told reporters.
Ukraine and its European allies are pushing for changes to the US proposal, as they see it as very beneficial regarding Moscow’s intentions.
Tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel have died since the start of the invasion, while millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the “important steps” taken during the talks, but acknowledged that more diplomatic work was needed, and stated that his country was going through a “critical moment.”
He pointed out, “To achieve true peace, more and more is needed. Of course, we continue to work with allies, especially the United States, and seek commitments that strengthen us, not weaken us.”
Zelensky warned last week that Ukraine could lose its “dignity” or Washington as an ally.
Ukraine, which has been fighting the Russian invasion for nearly four years, is once again at the center of intense negotiations, on the sidelines of an EU-AU summit in Angola.
In Luanda, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pointed out the necessity of Russia’s participation in any negotiations. He stressed that “the next step must be for Russia to sit at the table.”
Trump initially gave his Ukrainian counterpart next Thursday a deadline to respond to his plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, limit the size of its army, and abandon joining NATO.
Merz questioned Trump’s deadline, saying the discussions would be a “long process.”
Zelensky pointed out that the territorial issue remains a major problem in the negotiations. The Ukrainian president said: “Putin wants legal recognition for what he stole.”
While the negotiations continue, the war continues. On Tuesday morning (25 local time), powerful explosions rocked Kiev and the Ukrainian Air Force warned of a missile threat across the country.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry has announced a “massive Russian attack” on the country’s energy infrastructure, a key target for Moscow as winter approaches.
The Russian military in turn reported that the Krasnodar Administrative Region was the target of one of the most “long-lasting” bombings in Kiev, and that another Ukrainian attack in Rostov resulted in one death.
“Overnight, the Krasnodar region suffered one of the longest large-scale attacks launched by the Kiev regime,” Governor Veniamin Kondratiev said on Telegram.
From Washington, Trump expressed his confidence in a possible breakthrough. “Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good might happen,” he wrote on social media.
In Geneva, the Ukrainian delegation noted on Sunday that the new draft plan “already reflects most of Ukraine’s main priorities.”
In turn, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that “tremendous” progress had been made in the talks. “I honestly believe we can do it,” Rubio said, adding, “Obviously the Russians have a say in this.”
Russia occupies large areas of southern and eastern Ukraine. In total, it demands the annexation of five Ukrainian administrative regions, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed to its territory in 2014.