The White House on Sunday praised the latest round of peace negotiations in Switzerland as an important move toward ending the war in Ukraine, while firmly reiterating that any final deal must safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty. After lengthy closed-door meetings in Geneva, US and Ukrainian officials released a joint statement saying they had produced a revised version of the proposed peace framework.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the American delegation, working with Ukrainian and European counterparts to reduce disagreements over what a possible end to the four-year conflict could look like.
President Donald Trump has set Nov 27 as the deadline for Kyiv to accept a deal, a timeline that has raised concerns in Ukraine. An earlier draft — leaked earlier this month — sparked public backlash because it appeared to require Ukraine to surrender occupied territory, cut back its military, and halt its pursuit of NATO membership. Those proposals crossed long-standing red lines for President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration.
The updated statement released Sunday suggested some of the more controversial elements may have been eased. Officials described the latest discussions as productive and respectful, claiming “meaningful progress” had been made in narrowing positions and outlining next steps. Both sides stressed that any eventual agreement must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and aim for a “just and lasting peace.”
In a separate message, the White House underscored that Rubio’s team had reaffirmed the core US position: Ukraine’s sovereignty, security, and long-term viability must remain at the center of the diplomatic process — marking a noticeable shift in tone from earlier versions of the peace plan that critics said tilted toward Russian demands.
