Ukraine, US reportedly cut down peace plan to 19 points, but key decisions left for leaders
Editor's note: The story was updated with additional details.
The United States and Ukraine praised the opening round of peace consultations in Geneva as "productive" and said they were encouraged by the pace of progress in a joint statement on Nov. 23.
The two sides said they had drafted an "updated and refined peace framework" after the initial 28-point peace plan pushed by the Trump administration was met with backlash over conditions that heavily favored Russia.
"The talks were constructive, focused, and respectful, underscoring the shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace," the statement read, adding that any future ceasefire proposal would need to "fully uphold Ukraine's sovereignty."
The joint announcement also noted that Ukraine "reaffirmed its gratitude for the steadfast commitment of the United States and, personally, President Donald J. Trump" and that both sides would "continue intensive work on joint proposals in the coming days."
In his nightly address on Nov. 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the plan had been reduced from its original 28 points, but did not disclose the new total.
"As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points – no longer 28 – and many of the right elements have been taken into account in this framework," Zelensky said.
However, sources cited by the Financial Times said the framework was cut to 19 points, without specifying which items were removed.
Separately, Bloomberg reported that the revised version dropped the plan to allocate $100 billion in frozen Russian assets toward U.S.-led reconstruction and investment efforts in Ukraine.
Roughly two-thirds of the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets are held in the EU, which is developing plans on using them for long-term support for Kyiv.
Serhii Kyslytsia, Ukraine's first deputy foreign minister, said the reviewed draft left both sides feeling "positive" about the outcome.
Talking to the Financial Times, the Ukrainian diplomat said that some of the most crucial points, such as territorial issues or relations between NATO, Russia, and the U.S., would be decided later by Zelensky and Trump.
"Very few things are left from the original version," Kyslytsia said.
The initial outline of the plan imposed harsh conditions on Ukraine, including surrendering the entire Donbas region to Russia, reducing its military to 600,000 troops, and relinquishing NATO aspirations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who represented Washington at the talks, said Trump is "quite pleased" with the progress made.
"Today — and we've talked to (Trump) since — I think he's quite pleased at the reports we've given him about the amount of progress that's been made," Rubio told reporters in Switzerland.
"I think we all recognize that part of getting a final end to this war will require for Ukraine to feel that it is safe and it is never going to be invaded or attacked again," he added.
Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office and the leader of the Ukrainian delegation, confirmed the two sides "made very good progress and are moving forward to a just and lasting peace."
Over the weekend, Trump criticized Ukraine and Europe for their handling of the peace process as the U.S. intensifies efforts to broker a deal, but softened his tone after the Geneva talks.
Rubio noted the peace plan is a "living, breathing document" and is still subject to change as peace talks continue.
"Just because it's printed on a piece of paper doesn't indicate finality, so you get input, and based on that input, you make adjustments, and then you get more input," he said.
Trump, on Nov. 22, said the initial peace proposal was not Washington's final offer to Ukraine amid widespread concern that Ukraine was being rushed into an unfavorable agreement.
The initially imposed deadline of Nov. 27 could also be extended by several days, Rubio said, adding that he feels "optimistic" that a consensus will be reached "in a very reasonable period of time, very soon."
"Whether it's Thursday, whether it's Friday, whether it's Wednesday, whether it's Monday of the following week, we want it to be soon, because people are going to die," Rubio said.
Trump has previously said that Ukraine must make a decision by Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., which falls on Nov. 27.
In a separate evening address, Zelensky said the Ukrainian delegation stressed the importance of maintaining active dialogue with Washington.
"It is important that there is dialogue with the American representatives, and there are signals President Trump’s team is hearing us," Zelensky said. "Diplomacy has been reinvigorated, and that’s good."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was closely monitoring the Geneva negotiations but had not received the updated peace proposal, noting that there are currently no plans for subsequent talks between Russia and the U.S. this week.
Amid talks in Geneva, Europe has reportedly issued a counterproposal to the initial 28-point peace plan.
Reuters reported that the counterproposal would see Ukraine's military capped at 800,000 troops in peacetime rather than 600,000 in the initial peace plan.
Ukraine joining NATO falls on consensus among the alliance's members, which does not exist, the reported proposal stipulates, while also prohibiting NATO from permanently stationing troops on the territory of Ukraine under its command in peacetime.
The new peace proposal drops recognition of Russia's occupation of Ukraine's territories.
"All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children," the proposed peace plan stipulates, as reported by Reuters.
The counterproposal also calls for U.S.-backed security guarantees that mirror NATO's Article 5, which, when invoked, considers an attack on one member an attack on all members. NATO's Article 5 is a defining feature of the alliance.
Several Ukrainian concessions are retained in the counterproposal, which allows Russia to rejoin the Group of Eight, which currently operates as the Group of Seven without Moscow's participation.
However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later rejected the possibility of Moscow rejoining the group, noting that none of the members, apart from the U.S., are open to it.
Europe's counterproposal, as reported by Reuters, also sees the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant fall under international control, with produced electricity divided between Ukraine and Russia.
Moscow has already rejected the European plan but said it remains open to the initial version outlined by the U.S.
