GENEVA, 25 November (H.S.): Top officials from the United States and Ukraine announced on Monday that significant progress has been made in amending a controversial US-led peace proposal to end the nearly four-year war with Russia. The urgent weekend talks in Geneva were convened after the initial 28-point plan, which was perceived as heavily favoring Moscow, drew alarm from Kyiv and European allies.
The original proposal reportedly included demands for Ukraine to cede territory, limit the size of its military, and formally abandon any aspirations to join the NATO military alliance. However, following intense negotiations, the plan has been revised.
An adviser to the Ukrainian president, Oleksandr Bevz, confirmed that the revised framework is now a 19-point plan and that the US showed great openness and understanding regarding Ukraine's need for security guarantees.
The critical issue of territory remains unresolved and will require discussion at the head-of-state level.European leaders, who felt sidelined by the initial US proposal, have pressed for significant changes. A European counter-proposal reportedly includes a halt to fighting along current front lines and a NATO-style security guarantee for Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the interim result of the Geneva talks, stating the US proposal has been modified in significant parts . The coalition of the willing, a group of approximately 30 countries supporting Kyiv, is set to hold video talks on Tuesday to discuss the negotiations.
US President Donald Trump, who had previously criticized Ukraine, struck a more optimistic tone on Monday, suggesting that something good just may be happening. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the US delegation in Geneva, called the talks very worthwhile and said he feels very optimistic that we can get something done.
The Kremlin, however, stated on Monday that it had not seen the revised plan and that a European counter-proposal was not constructive. Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, had earlier indicated that many provisions of the original US plan seemed quite acceptable to Moscow.
The diplomatic push comes at a critical time for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country is facing immense pressure on the battlefield and a domestic corruption scandal.
In a statement on Sunday, Zelenskyy said, Diplomacy has been reinvigorated, and that's good. Very good. The revised peace plan will be further developed before being presented to the leaders of the US and Ukraine, and subsequently to Russia .
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
