US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on 23/11 that significant progress had been made, stating, "I think we have made very significant progress. It is not impossible to resolve the outstanding issues. I feel very optimistic about the ability to achieve our goals within a reasonable timeframe, very soon."

Rubio's statement followed a day of meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva, Switzerland, where discussions centered on a peace proposal initiated by President Donald Trump's administration to end the conflict.

Secretary of State Rubio speaks after dialogues in Geneva, Switzerland, on 23/11. Photo: AFP

However, the US Secretary of State noted that any agreement requires consensus from both leaders. He also highlighted outstanding issues needing further discussion before engaging Russia, which had initially welcomed the proposal. "Naturally, Russia will have the right to contribute," he stated.

Secretary Rubio believed President Trump "felt quite pleased" upon being briefed on the progress. When asked if an agreement would be reached by 27/11 as Trump requested, Rubio affirmed the US aimed to complete it "as soon as possible."

Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine and head of the Ukrainian delegation, announced "very good progress," stating the parties were moving towards "the lasting, just peace that the Ukrainian people deserve."

The Ukrainian delegation also referenced an updated draft peace plan from Washington, noting it "reflects most of Kiev's main priorities." This draft version has not been publicly released.

The US and Ukraine subsequently issued a joint statement, describing the dialogues as "respectful, focused, and constructive," and underscoring their shared commitment to a just and lasting peace.

The joint statement continued: "Both sides agreed that the consultations were very effective, showing significant progress in efforts to unify views and clearly define the next steps. They also reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully respect Ukraine's sovereignty, while bringing a sustainable and just peace. After discussion, the parties drafted an updated peace framework."

The US and Ukraine agreed to continue active discussions on joint proposals in the coming days, maintaining close contact with European partners. Final decisions within this framework will be made by the Presidents of both nations.

US (left) and Ukrainian delegations in dialogue in Geneva, Switzerland, on 23/11. Photo: AFP

The 28-point peace plan proposed by the US last week includes demands for Ukraine to cede some territory, accept military size limitations, and cease pursuing NATO membership. Notably, the US drafted this proposal without consulting its European allies, who are now seeking to express their views and safeguard Ukraine's interests.

Amidst the ongoing negotiations in Geneva, President Trump criticized Ukrainian leaders as "ungrateful" and accused European nations of insufficient efforts to end the conflict.

President Zelensky later expressed Ukraine's gratitude to the US and President Trump personally for support "that helped save Ukrainian lives."

Pham Giang (According to AFP)