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Rubio says changes expected in pro-Russian peace plan to add something Ukraine can support
Arpan Rai,James ReynoldsMonday 24 November 2025 04:23 GMTComments
CloseMarco Rubio appraises Ukraine peace talks in Geneva
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Europe is demanding changes to the pro-Russian peace plan floated by the Trump administration as US secretary of state Marco Rubio hailed “tremendous progress” at talks with Ukraine.
The Trump administration said it will make “some changes” to its contentious peace plan for Ukraine following “productive” talks in Geneva yesterday.
The European plan proposes that Ukraine be granted a larger military than under the US plan and that talks on land swaps should start from the frontline rather than a pre-determined view of which areas should be considered Russian.
A US senator has also called the plan as not the administration's position, but "essentially the wish-list of the Russians".
Rubio has indicated Washington would be making amends to its 28-point plan to converge on something both Ukraine and the US can support. Ukraine’s Andriy Yermak agreed that the delegations had made “good progress” towards a just and lasting peace.
The comments came hours after Trump took a swipe at the Ukrainian leadership, which he accused of expressing “zero gratitude” for their efforts to end the war. Trump also took issue with Europe for buying oil from Russia.
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Key Points
- Rubio hails tremendous progress in Ukraine talks despite tensions from Kyiv
- France, UK and Germany work on response to Trump's peace plan – ISW
- How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
- US and Ukraine say they have an 'updated and refined' peace framework
France, UK and Germany work on response to Trump's peace plan – ISW
European leaders are reportedly working on a counterproposal to the initial US-proposed 28-point peace plan, the Institute for the Study of War said.
“Western outlets reported that France, the United Kingdom, and Germany drafted a counterproposal ahead of their talks with Ukrainian and American delegations in Geneva on November 23,” it said.
“The 24-point counterproposal reportedly includes calls for an immediate ceasefire to precede discussions about territorial issues; for the cap on Ukraine’s military to be 800,000 'in peacetime'; for Ukraine to receive a security guarantee from the United States similar to North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (Nato) Article 5," they said.
The counterproposal also includes calls "for the use of frozen Russian assets to fully reconstruct and financially compensate Ukraine; for Ukrainian membership in Nato to depend on consensus from alliance members; and for Ukraine to decide on the presence of foreign troops from guarantor states on Ukrainian territory”, the US-based think tank monitoring the war said.
Arpan Rai24 November 2025 04:20How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
The ‘deal’ being briefed out by Washington and Moscow is really just a blueprint for Russian conquest.
World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley explains why it doesn’t have to be that way:
How Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine has been entirely dictated by Putin
The ‘deal’ being briefed out by Washington and Moscow is really just a blueprint for Russian conquest. Sam Kiley explains why it doesn’t have to be that wayJames Reynolds24 November 2025 04:00Rubio hails tremendous progress in Ukraine talks despite tensions from Kyiv
The main talks between US and Ukrainian officials got under way in a stiff atmosphere at the US mission, soon after Donald Trump complained in a Truth Social post that Ukraine's leadership had shown "zero gratitude" to the US for its efforts and Europe continued to buy Russian oil.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio interrupted the meeting to speak to reporters, saying the talks had been probably the best the US had held with Ukraine since Trump returned to power.
"Obviously this will ultimately have to be signed off with our presidents, although I feel very comfortable about that happening given the progress we've made," said Rubio.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian delegation, was at pains to thank Trump for his commitment to Kyiv during the brief interlude. Minutes later, Zelensky also thanked Trump.
Yermak did not reappear with Rubio when the talks ended.
Rubio has departed Geneva en route back to Washington, a senior State Department official said.
Arpan Rai24 November 2025 03:24What changes has Europe sought in Trump's skewed peace plan?
European officials joined the US and Ukrainian delegations for talks after crafting a modified version of the US plan that pushes back on proposed limits to Kyiv's armed forces and mooted territorial concessions.
The European plan proposes that Ukraine be granted a larger military than under the US plan and that talks on land swaps should start from the frontline rather than a pre-determined view of which areas should be considered Russian.
Trump has said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has until Thursday to approve the plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military and renounce ambitions to join Nato.
Arpan Rai24 November 2025 03:14US and Ukraine say they have an 'updated and refined' peace framework
The United States and Ukraine said they had created an "updated and refined peace framework" to end the war with Russia that apparently modified an earlier plan drafted by the Trump administration which Kyiv and its allies saw as too sympathetic to Moscow.
In a joint statement released after talks in Geneva between US and Ukrainian delegations, the two sides said their discussion was "highly productive" and said they would continue in coming days.
They did not provide specifics about a host of issues that must be resolved, including how to guarantee Kyiv's security from the threat posed by Russia.
In a separate statement, the White House said the new version included strengthened security guarantees, and that the Ukrainian delegation had said it "reflects their national interests."
Ukrainian officials did not provide a separate statement of their own and were not immediately available for comment.
Arpan Rai24 November 2025 03:03What's in the European counter proposal?
A counter-proposal, drafted by Europe's E3 powers of Britain, France and Germany, emerged on Sunday as an alternative to the US plan. The 28-point counter is structurally based on the original proposal, with several caveats and amendments to the wording.
- The basis for territory swaps is markedly different. The original US proposal would see Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk recognised as de facto Russia. The counter proposal says Ukraine should commit to not taking back “occupied sovereign territory” through force. Negotiations on territory swaps would start from existing lines, it says.
- Ukraine’s standing military would be larger than that originally proposed, at up to 800,000 personnel from 600,000.
- Ukraine would also hold elections “as soon as possible” after the signing of the peace agreement, rather than in 100 days.
- Ukraine would also be compensated financially, including through frozen Russian sovereign assets.
- Point 3, that there would be an expectation Russia would not invade its neighbours and NATO will not expand further, had been deleted.
James Reynolds24 November 2025 02:47UK navy intercepts Russian corvette and tanker as Moscow steps up naval activity
A U.K. patrol ship has intercepted a Russian corvette and a tanker after shadowing them through the English Channel, the Defense Ministry said Sunday, adding that Russian naval activity around U.K. waters had increased by 30% over the past two years.
With the past two weeks, the patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted the Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya as they sailed through the English Channel, the ministry said.
Read the full story:
Royal Navy intercepts Russian warship and tanker off UK coast
The Royal Navy intercepted a Russian warship and tanker in the Dover Strait and English ChannelJames Reynolds24 November 2025 02:00Trump accuses Zelensky of ‘ingratitude’ but agrees to change ‘pro-Russian’ peace plan
The United States agreed to make “some changes” to its contentious peace proposal to end the war in Ukraine on Sunday, following crunch talks both parties appraised as a success.
Read the full story:
Trump accuses Zelensky of ‘ingratitude’ but agrees to change ‘pro-Russian’ peace plan
Britain, France and Germany presented a modified version of the Trump administration’s planJames Reynolds24 November 2025 01:00How Putin is pushing Nato to a cliff edge
Lithuania’s Vilnius airport was closed again on Sunday evening due to smugglers’ balloons appearing on radar.
The EU warned previously that such intrusions occurred in the context of a wider targeted hybrid campaign.
Multiple countries have reported what they call acts of ‘hybrid’ warfare in recent months:
Blowing up tankers and drone incursions: How Putin is pushing Nato to a cliff edge
Multiples countries in the alliance have reported incursions by drones into their airspace in recent months, James C. Reynolds reportsJames Reynolds23 November 2025 23:56Premium: Putin’s plan to crush Ukraine this winter might just work
Inside Putin’s plan to crush Ukraine this winter – and why it might work
Surviving the cold season is simply not possible without light and heat, and the resilience of ordinary long-suffering Ukrainians is about to face its most serious test of the war so far. Owen Matthews reports on Putin’s plan to deliver his fatal blowBryony Gooch23 November 2025 23:00Newer1 / 9OlderMore about
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