Ukraine says US draft peace plan now reflects most of its key priorities

Ukrainians opposed the early peace deal, feeling it did not reflect their priorities. Photo / Getty Images

The latest version of the US draft plan for ending the war in Ukraine now includes most of Kyiv’s “key priorities”, its negotiator says after talks in Geneva.

The Ukrainian delegation was assigned with a difficult task to ensure its national interests were included in the 28-point US plan, which initially heeded to some of Moscow’s hardline demands.

“The current version of the document, although still in the final stages of approval, already reflects most of Ukraine’s key priorities,” negotiator Rustem Umerov, who is also the secretary of Ukraine’s security council, said.

“We greatly appreciate the constructive cooperation with the United States and their attentive consideration of our comments, which allows us to move forward in this joint process,” he added.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier also indicated some Ukrainian talking points may be included.

“Currently, there is an understanding that the American proposals may include a number of elements based on Ukrainian perspectives and critical for Ukrainian national interests,” he said on social media.

‘Zero gratitude’

US President Donald Trump, who is known for blowing hot and cold on Ukraine, earlier blasted Kyiv on his Truth Social platform, saying its leadership “EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS”, referring to his plan to end the nearly four-year conflict. He re-aired frustration at the war’s “HUMAN CATASTROPHE” and attacked his predecessor Joe Biden, but offered no direct condemnation of Moscow.

Umerov, a former defence minister who led Ukraine’s team at the previous stage of negotiations in Turkey, said the talks in Geneva would continue on Sunday (local time).

The initial version of the 28-point plan required the invaded country to cede territory, cut its army and pledge never to join Nato. It had also provided for some vague security guarantees and using frozen Russian assets to rebuild the war-torn country.

Trump has given Ukraine until November 27, when the US celebrates Thanksgiving, to approve it, but also signalled there may be some flexibility around the deadline.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly expressed thanks for the huge US military support to Ukraine, which continues to battle the occupying Russian forces across a front hundreds of kilometres long.

- Agence France-Presse