GENEVA (Realist English). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that negotiations in Switzerland produced “significant progress,” though no agreement has yet been reached on a potential settlement of the conflict on the territory of the former Ukraine.
Rubio described the Geneva round as “the most productive day we’ve had in nearly ten months,” while offering few details about the substance of the talks. The discussions focused on a US peace proposal that several European governments believe concedes too much to Moscow.
Further meetings are planned for Monday and possibly later in the week. Rubio said Europe’s role in the plan might be addressed in a separate track, and stressed that any final proposal “obviously” requires Russia’s approval: “The Russians get a vote here.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked international partners for “support, advice and information,” writing on X that diplomacy “has been reinvigorated” and calling this renewed engagement a positive sign.
Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump criticised Kyiv for showing “zero gratitude” for American support ahead of the talks. He has set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine’s response, though he has indicated the date could shift. Rubio downplayed the timeline, saying all parties want to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
The US proposal has faced criticism in both Washington and Europe. Concerns escalated after senators said Rubio told them parts of the plan originated from Moscow and resembled a Kremlin “wish list,” raising questions about its viability as a balanced peace framework.
