KYIV – The United States and Ukraine have agreed on a revised framework to end the war with Russia after high-level talks in Geneva, both governments confirmed on Monday, November 24. The updated plan follows earlier criticism from Kyiv and European allies that Washington’s initial proposal was too favourable to Moscow.
In a joint statement, US and Ukrainian officials said the new draft resulted from Sunday’s discussions in Switzerland. No details were released. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his delegation would return to Kyiv to brief the government.
US President Donald Trump noted progress on Truth Social, saying, “Something good just may be happening.” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said a few disagreements remained but expressed confidence they could be resolved. She said no meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy had been scheduled yet.
Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that the new proposal contained “correct” elements, but some sensitive issues would require direct discussion with Trump.
Washington’s approach to the conflict has shifted significantly since mid-2025, raising concerns among Kyiv and European capitals. Trump’s surprise summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska sparked fears that the United States might accept Russian demands. Instead, the meeting led to increased US pressure on Moscow.
The latest 28-point US proposal once again surprised many in Ukraine and Europe. It would require Ukraine to cede more territory, accept limits on its armed forces, and drop its long-term ambition of joining NATO. Ukrainian and European officials say those terms amount to capitulation.
European governments drafted a counterproposal that would freeze fighting along current lines, delay territorial decisions, and provide Ukraine with a US-sponsored security guarantee similar to NATO’s collective defense. Russia rejected the European version outright.
The diplomatic push comes as Zelenskyy faces rising domestic pressure. A corruption scandal forced the dismissal of two ministers, and Russian forces have made recent gains along parts of the front.
Public scepticism remains strong. “Trump’s special plan is, in general, a capitulation for Ukraine,” said 62-year-old civil servant Anzhelika Yurkevych. “The Ukrainian people will not agree.”
Speaking to international partners via video link from Sweden, Zelenskyy said Ukraine continued to seek compromises “that will strengthen but not weaken us.” Sources familiar with the talks said Zelenskyy could visit the United States as soon as this week for further discussions with Trump.
Even as talks continued, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, was hit by a major drone strike on Sunday that killed four people. Emergency responders searched the rubble as smoke covered the area. “There was a family, there were children,” said Ihor Klymenko of a Red Cross emergency team. “The children are alive, thank God. The man is alive. The woman died.”
Across the border, Russia said it had shot down 10 Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow. A Ukrainian strike earlier on Sunday temporarily cut power to thousands near the Russian capital, a rare reversal of the routine outages inflicted on Ukrainian cities by Russian attacks.
European Union leaders also discussed Ukraine on the sidelines of an EU-African Union summit in Luanda. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Trump had shown openness to a jointly developed peace plan and called Sunday’s talks an interim result. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said any deal must not weaken Ukraine or Europe, adding, “No one wants to discourage Americans and President Trump from having the United States on our side in this process.”
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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