US peace plan in progress: Ukraine and Europe positions and who's negotiating with Russia

Peace plan: Ukraine’s position

Last week, Ukraine confirmed discussions with the US regarding the peace plan. Over the weekend, talks were held in Geneva with the American delegation. As a result, the 28-point plan was reduced (reportedly to 19 points), and disputed issues were removed.

The updated text of the peace plan has not been officially published. However, according to RBC-Ukraine sources, the document currently does not include any provisions on restrictions on the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Provisions regarding amnesty for crimes committed during the war were also removed.

It was also reported that certain points of the plan will be discussed during a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, including issues related to territory.

This morning, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov said that Ukraine would like to hold a meeting with Trump before the end of the month. Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak was even more specific, naming November 27 as the preferred date for the meeting.

Peace plan: US position

Last week, Donald Trump confirmed the existence of a peace plan and also mentioned a deadline for Ukraine to respond. The US leader said Ukraine should reply to the plan by November 27.

However, this week, RBC-Ukraine sources noted that the deadline is not currently relevant, as work on the document is ongoing and constructive.

Today, the White House stated that over the past week, the US has made significant progress toward a peace agreement.

"There are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.

Peace plan: Europe's position

European allies of Ukraine, responding to the US peace plan, said last week that they would work on their own proposals. However, today, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that there will be no alternative.

"We should work with the text that's in existence, unacceptable, although some parts of it are, because other parts are essential, rather than a different text," he said.

Today, under Starmer’s leadership, a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing took place. European leaders made several statements regarding the prospects for peace in Ukraine.

Starmer said that, according to Zelenskyy, most of the peace plan could be accepted. He also urged Europeans to strengthen their commitments to a possible peacekeeping operation in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the talks are gaining new momentum and that there is finally a chance to make real progress toward peace. He added that efforts to end the war in Ukraine are at a critical stage.

"Ukraine needs a set of very reliable security guarantees, not paper guarantees," he said.

Peace plan: Russia's response

Initially, Russia denied the existence of a peace plan, claiming it knew nothing about it. This was despite media reports that Putin ally Kirill Dmyriev was involved in drafting the plan. Later, the Kremlin confirmed that it was aware of the document and had seen the 28-point draft.

According to media reports, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has been holding talks in Abu Dhabi with the Russian side over the past two days. The identity of the Russian representatives in the UAE has not been disclosed. Driscoll, who previously met with the Ukrainian side in Kyiv and Geneva, is reportedly discussing the updated plan with Russia.

Additionally, according to Western media, the Chief of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, is also in Abu Dhabi. He was part of the Ukrainian delegation in Geneva.