European, Ukrainian and US officials hold Geneva talks on Trump’s plan to end war

GENEVA - Top officials from the United States, Ukraine, and national security advisers from France, Britain and Germany will hold talks in Geneva on Nov 23 to discuss

Washington’s draft plan

to end the war in Ukraine.

United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were due to arrive on Nov 23 for the talks on ending Russia’s invasion, now in its fourth year.

On Nov 21, US President Donald Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had until Nov 27 to approve the 28-point plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military and renounce ambitions to join NATO.

“We hope to iron out the final details...to draft a deal that is advantageous to them (Ukraine),” a US official said.

“Nothing will be agreed on until the two presidents get together,” said the official, referring to Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky.

Ahead of Mr Rubio’s departure for Geneva, Mr Trump said his current proposal for ending the war is not his final offer.

Early on Nov 23, convoys of vehicles with US diplomatic plates were seen driving through Geneva, though it was not immediately clear exactly when the talks were beginning.

US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll arrived in Geneva ahead of the talks, and a Ukrainian delegation was expected on Nov 22, the official said.

Ukraine’s delegation is led by the head of Mr Zelensky’s office, Mr Andriy Yermak, and includes top security officials.

National security advisers from the E3 alliance of France, Britain and Germany will join the discussions, alongside the European Union. Italy would also send an official, diplomatic sources said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would speak with Mr Zelensky later on Nov 23 about the peace plan.

European and other Western leaders said on Nov 22 the US peace plan, which endorses key Russian demands, was a basis for talks to end the war but needed “additional work”, as they seek a better deal for Kyiv before the Nov 27 deadline.

A German government source said a European draft peace plan, which is based on the US proposal, had been sent to Ukraine and to the US administration.

Before the talks, Mr Zelensky warned that Ukraine risked losing its dignity and freedom – or Washington’s backing – over the plan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the plan as the basis of a resolution to the conflict, but Moscow may object to some proposals in the scheme, which requires its forces to pull back from some areas they have captured. REUTERS