Kyiv: “We are very constructive”Ukraine’s negotiations with the US are starting
Could America’s controversial 28-point plan still be watered down? However, representatives of Ukraine and its supporting countries in the West are trying to prevent the worst.
Government representatives from the US, European Union and Britain as well as Ukraine traveled to Geneva to discuss ways to end Russia’s war of aggression. They want to discuss the 28-point plan put forward by the US as well as heavily revised versions by European countries. Both the government in Kiev and European Union countries and Britain had rejected the US ultimatum until Thursday as tantamount to surrendering Ukraine by demanding that the territory be handed over to Russia and the number of future troops be limited.
The Ukrainian delegation started its work in Geneva, as announced by the head of the delegation, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak. Before meeting with US representatives, he wrote on Platform X: “We are very constructive.” We continue to work together to achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine. Various meetings in different formats are planned throughout the day.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Geneva in the morning as representatives of the United States. “We look forward to finalizing the final details and reaching a deal that is beneficial to Ukraine,” said a US administration official. He gave the impression that this was primarily about talks with Ukraine. “There will be no agreement until both presidents come together,” he added, referring to US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Before Rubio’s departure for Geneva, Trump had reconsidered his 28-point plan and stressed that this was not his final offer.
US government representatives spoke about a coordination meeting in the morning before official talks began. There will be talks in various formats between US and Ukrainian security advisers throughout the day, he added. It remains unclear how European countries will get involved.
Who is the mastermind behind this plan?
Since the US plan was announced, there has been much confusion about who was involved in its development. European allies criticized that they were not consulted. Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with Trump by telephone on Friday and arranged consultations in Geneva. He warned the US administration on Saturday that the US could not reach a deal without Ukraine and Europe.
On the European side, security advisers from Germany, France, Britain, Italy and the European Union Commission traveled to Geneva. The Ukrainian delegation will be led by Andriy Yermak, head of President Zelensky’s office.
On Saturday, the National Security Council of the Federal Government met to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The committee, chaired by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, “discussed recent developments regarding the war against Ukraine,” said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.
A warning came from the German side not to accept the US plan. Merz, who took part in the G20 summit in South Africa on Saturday, briefed other council members “about his discussions with European and international partners,” a government spokesman said. “The National Security Council has reiterated that Germany will continue to participate with great commitment in a just and lasting peace negotiation process for Ukraine.”
