After the Geneva negotiations between representatives of the United States and Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the progress made, but underlined that “much more” was needed to achieve “real peace” with Russia. “In the measures agreed with the American side, we managed to include very sensitive points,” he said at a virtual conference in Sweden. “These are stages, but to achieve true peace we need much more,” he added.
US-Kiev joint statement
In a joint statement issued by the White House after yesterday’s meeting we read that The US and Ukraine “have developed a renewed and enhanced peace framework”. “Discussions on the US peace proposal” were “constructive, targeted and mutually respectful and a shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace was underscored”, with a determination to continue contacts. “Both parties agreed that the consultations were very productive – we read – The discussions revealed significant progress toward position alignmentidentify clear next steps. They reiterated that any future agreement must fully respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and ensure just and sustainable peace.”
The Ukrainian delegation “reiterated its gratitude for the strong commitment of the United States and Donald Trump, for their relentless efforts to end the war and the loss of life.” Ukraine and the United States “have agreed to continue intensive work on joint proposals in the coming days” and “will remain in close contact with European partners.” The “final decision”, it underlined, would rest with “the presidents of Ukraine and the United States”, with a reaffirmed commitment to “continue to work together for peace that ensures the security, stability and reconstruction of Ukraine”.
Givra’s progress and European counter proposals
Yesterday was a Sunday of intense negotiations in Geneva. “There has never been a more productive meeting,” Rubio said, explaining that the 28-point US peace plan, refined in negotiations, would be handed over to Russia. The White House wants Ukraine to agree to plans Thursday November 27, to celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the best way.
However, European proposals are also starting to be discussed. Even in this case, CNN stated, the 24-point text was highly arbitrary: the goal was to elicit any change in American plans through some kind of diplomatic maneuvering between communicating ships. There are many fundamental differences between the European plan and Trump’s plan. The document will blur the boundaries of NATO’s actions: American plans exclude without half measures the presence of Alliance troops in Ukraine, European plans do not envisage permanent deployment and do not completely exclude the possibility of Kiev joining the Alliance even if there is no agreement among the current members of the Atlantic Pact.
The issue of security guarantees for Ukraine is central: in the event of a new attack by Russia, a mechanism comparable to NATO’s Article 5 would be activated, which provides for the Alliance’s intervention in defense of the attacked member.
The European document makes no mention of territorial concessions. However, Washington considers Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk essentially Russian territory and is recognized as Russian territory. Therefore, Kiev should not withdraw from the cities it controls in Donbass.
To discuss Ukraine-related plans, European Council President Antonio Costa has convened an informal meeting of EU heads of state and government this morning in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the EU-African Union summit. Having a “unified and coordinated” EU position is “fundamental” to ensuring that peace talks have a “positive outcome” for Ukraine and Europe, said Costa, who spoke with Zelensky by telephone before the summit, via social media.
Attack in Kharkiv: 4 killed and 17 injured
Meanwhile, the raids continued. The new death toll from the Russian attack that hit Kharkiv last night was at least four people killed and 17 people injured. Local authorities reported it, as reported by The Kyiv Independent. Among the injured were two children aged 11 and 12, reported governor Oleh Syniehubov.
Russia itself claims to have shot down 93 Ukrainian drones during the night. Moscow’s Defense Ministry announced that they were intercepted and shot down while flying over several regions of Russia and nearly half of the drones, 45, were destroyed in the Belgorod region. This was reported by the Russian agency Tass.
