Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he hoped "there will be a result" as top US, Ukrainian and European officials meet in Geneva, Switzerland, to discussnext steps for ending the warin Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader said his team was in close contact with the Americans as Kyiv's allies move to assemble a cohesive response to the Trump administration's28-point plan, which has sparked condemnation for making major concessions to Russia.
US President Donald Trump – who lashed out at Ukrainian leadership on Sunday for showing "zero gratitude" toward US efforts to broker peace – has given Kyiv until Thursday to accept the proposal. Zelensky has thanked the United States for its support onmany occasionssince Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The plan puts pressure on Kyiv to cede territory, limit the size of its military and promise not to join NATO in exchange for an end to the war – all long-standing Kremlin demands.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met with the Ukrainian delegation on Sunday, according to a US official.
"Last night included some good meetings between Secretary Driscoll and the Ukrainian delegation. These were positive and constructive – but I won't get into specifics," the official said.
Later on Sunday, there is a "formal meeting between the two delegations where they will be ironing out the details of the agreement," the official said in a later update.
The official added that talks so far had been "productive and even conclusive in some areas."
A group of Western and European leaders who met on the sidelines of the G20 in South Africa on Saturday welcomed the uptick in diplomatic efforts butexpressed concern over the proposal, saying it was only "an initial draft" that "will require additional work."
"We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack," a statement from the leaders said.
Asked by CNN ahead of the Ukraine-US talks if Kyiv would reject Trump's proposal, Ukraine's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said they were "preparing for a constructive conversation."
Trump cast doubt over his own timings ahead of the Geneva meeting, telling reporters on the South Lawn of the White House the plan was not his "final offer."
In response to a CNN question about what happens if Zelensky doesn't accept the plan by his deadline on Thursday, Trump replied, "Then he can continue to fight his little heart out."
Earlier on Sunday, the Ukrainian delegation met with officials from the UK, Germany and France, Yermak said.
Fears of Europe being sidelined
It is unclear whether all parties will meet together. A Western diplomat told CNN there was concern that the the US "will not let us in the tent" and exclude European powers from negotiation.
One European diplomat told CNN that any future deal "cannot entail recognition of occupation. The contact line should be a point of departure."
"There should be no removal of the right to choose alliances, no cap on Ukraine's armed forces, or back door introduction of Russia's demands on European security," the diplomat said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he is "skeptical" an agreement will be reached on the US-proposed plan in time for Trump's deadline, citing concerns over current differing viewpoints.
"I wouldn't say pessimistic, but I'm not convinced that the solution wanted by President Trump will be reached in the next few days," Merz said Sunday. "That doesn't mean it's completely impossible to reach. … But I'm sceptical whether such an outcome is possible."
Planning for a separate meeting between a Russian delegation and the US to discuss the proposal is also in the works and "will happen quickly," a US official said – but not in Geneva. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously said he believed the US proposal "could form the basis of a final peace settlement."
The talks in Switzerland come ahead of a proposed meeting between EU leaders on Monday, announced by European Council President António Costa on Saturday.
In what will be a busy few days of diplomacy, French President Emmanuel Macron said the 30 countries in the "coalition of the willing" supporting Kyiv will hold a video call on Tuesday.
CNN's Sophie Tanno, Nick Paton Walsh, Jennifer Hansler, Kit Maher, Matthew Chance and Oren Lieberman contributed reporting.
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