Following the first round of negotiations between Ukraine and America, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that there would be changes to the published plan for ending the war in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump spoke out while the Ukraine talks were ongoing in Geneva and attacked Kyiv and Europe like never before.
In the meantime, delegations from America, Ukraine, and European countries are attending the talks in Switzerland. Ukrainians and Europeans hope to succeed in changing some points of Washington’s peace plan, which primarily suits Russia.
Ukraine is facing unimaginable pressure, said the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, after the publication of Trump’s 28-point plan, which implies Ukraine giving up part of its territory and NATO membership.
Trump recently gave Ukraine a deadline: to declare its stance on the plan by Thursday, while Russian President Vladimir Putin says the document could serve as a basis for ending the war.
Europe Offers Putin a Return to the G8?
The European bloc has agreed to invite Vladimir Putin back to the G8 as part of a peace agreement for Ukraine. The offer for Russia to rejoin the political forum, from which it was excluded in 2017 after the annexation of Crimea, was made during the talks in Geneva.
Another Meeting of Americans and Ukrainians Today
The head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, Andriy Yermak, announced on social media that the meeting with the American team was “very productive.”
He says that a second meeting will be held today where they will continue working on joint proposals with the participation of European allies.
Zelensky Speaks Out Again
Zelensky again posted on social media that Russia started the war, refuses to end it, and is trying to preserve its ability to continue the fight “and not just against Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian leader says he deeply appreciates that so many countries are working for peace and that Ukraine is “grateful to the United States, every American heart, and personally to President Trump for the assistance.”
But he adds: “It is important not to forget the main goal – to stop the Russian war and prevent it from ever flaring up again. And to achieve this, peace must be dignified.”
Americans Change the Plan
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Zelensky’s Chief of Staff and head of the Ukrainian delegation Andriy Yermak, came before journalists in Geneva.
Rubio says that today’s meetings were “the most productive and significant so far in this entire process since we became involved,” according to Sky News. He revealed that some points of the proposed 28-point peace plan are being changed, according to Ukrainian suggestions, but he stressed that there is still work to be done and that more information could be available during the day.
“We have a very good working document that has already been created based on input from all relevant parties, and we have now gone through some of those items, point by point. I think we have made good progress. Our teams have now gone to their rooms as we work on some of the proposals that have been presented to us. So, we are working on it, making changes in the hope of further narrowing the differences and moving closer to something that both Ukraine and the US will be very pleased with,” Rubio said.
Yermak thanked “great friends,” as he called the US and Trump. He agreed that the meeting was very productive.
“We have made very good progress and are moving towards a just and lasting peace. The Ukrainian people deserve and want this peace more than anyone. The work continues, Ukraine will include our European friends,” he said.
Trump Rages at Ukraine and Europe
– “The ‘leadership’ of Ukraine has expressed no gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia,” Trump angrily stated.
The US President reiterated the claim that the war in Ukraine would never have happened if he had been in the White House at the time.
– The war between Russia and Ukraine is violent and terrible. With adequate leadership in America and Ukraine, it never would have happened. It started long before I returned to the White House, during the administration of “Sleepy Joe Biden” – Trump noted.
Source: Blic Photo: AP Photo / Alex Brandon