Senior U.S., Ukrainian and European officials are scheduled to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday to discuss next steps toward ending the war in Ukraine, as Kiev’s allies try to put together a cohesive response to the Trump administration’s 28-point plan.
US President Donald Trump has given Kiev until Thursday to accept the offer, prompting accusations that it is making major concessions to Russia. The plan would pressure Kiev to cede territory, limit the size of its military and promise not to join NATO in exchange for an end to the war, all long-standing demands of the Kremlin.
A group of Western and European leaders, meeting on the sidelines of the G20 in South Africa on Saturday, welcomed the increased diplomatic effort, but expressed concern about the proposal, saying it was only an “early draft” and “additional work will be required.”
“We clearly understand the principle that borders must not be changed by force, and we are concerned about proposed restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces that could make Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks,” the leaders said in a statement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to participate in Sunday’s talks, U.S. officials said. The purpose of the meeting was to clear up language before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets with Trump, the official added.
National security advisers from Britain, France and Germany will also meet with their Ukrainian and American counterparts, diplomatic sources said.
One European diplomat told CNN that any future agreement “must not involve recognition of occupation. Lines of contact should be the starting point.”
“There should be no abolition of the right to choose alliances, no restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces, or a backdoor introduction of Russia’s demands for European security,” the diplomat said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he planned to meet Zelenskiy on Sunday to discuss the peace plan, Reuters reported.
“Follow-up is being done by the national security advisers. We will be speaking with President Zelenskiy later today to conclude some aspects of the relationship,” Carney said on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Johannesburg.
Plans are also in the works for another meeting between the Russian delegation and the United States to discuss the proposal and “will be held soon,” a U.S. official said, but it will not take place in Geneva. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said he believed the US proposal “could form the basis of a final peace agreement.”
On Saturday, President Zelenskiy acknowledged the planned talks and said he had signed a decree on the composition of the Ukrainian delegation. “Our representatives know how to protect Ukraine’s national interests and what it takes to prevent a third Russian invasion,” he said.
Zelenskiy has previously said he has no intention of betraying the country but will work around the clock to move the plan forward.
The talks in Switzerland come ahead of Monday’s proposal for an EU summit, announced by European Council President Antonio Costa on Saturday.
CNN’s Sophie Tanno, Nick Payton Walsh and Jennifer Hansler contributed reporting.
