European Leaders See Progress in Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ European leaders cautiously welcomed progress in U.S.-led peace talks on Ukraine. Revisions to a controversial U.S. peace plan reduced Russian-leaning provisions. Despite optimism, officials stressed peace in Ukraine remains far off.
Russia-Ukraine Peace Plan Talks: Quick Looks
- European leaders welcome U.S. peace talks despite initial concerns
- U.S. proposal revised to address Ukrainian and European objections
- German Chancellor notes progress, but warns peace won’t come quickly
- Ukraine’s Zelenskyy expresses cautious hope after Geneva meeting
- Russian reaction pending as Moscow awaits revised document
- U.S. Secretary of State Rubio leads diplomacy, garners praise
- Deadly drone strikes by Russia continue across Ukraine
- Turkey attempts renewed mediation between Russia and Ukraine
- Romania responds to drone activity near its NATO border
European Leaders See Progress in Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks
Deep Look
European officials expressed guarded optimism following a weekend of high-stakes diplomacy in Switzerland, where American and Ukrainian officials met to discuss a revised U.S. peace proposal aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine. The original proposal, which faced heavy criticism for appearing overly favorable to Russian demands, was significantly amended during the weekend talks.
While details of the modified proposal were not made public, European leaders conveyed cautious relief that the U.S. plan had been adjusted to address major concerns. Finnish President Alexander Stubb called the meeting “a step forward” but acknowledged that “major issues remain unresolved,” posting his comments on the platform X.
U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the development on Monday, suggesting the talks could be yielding meaningful results.
“Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine?” he posted on Truth Social. “Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that the U.S. plan had been revised in several key areas after consultations. “Some questions have been cleared up,” Merz stated, “but we also know that there won’t be peace in Ukraine overnight.”
The original draft of the plan had suggested Ukraine concede territory to Russia, reduce its military capabilities, and agree not to pursue NATO membership. That version alarmed Kyiv and European capitals alike, prompting diplomatic urgency to adjust its terms.
Now entering the war’s fourth year, Ukraine faces growing battlefield pressure, financial shortfalls, and an internal corruption scandal that has shaken President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration. The Geneva talks offered a rare glimmer of hope in this bleak context.
“Diplomacy has been reinvigorated, and that’s good. Very good,” Zelenskyy said in a Sunday night address, noting the importance of the renewed talks.
As of Monday, there was no public indication that additional meetings in Geneva were scheduled. Russia, for its part, has not yet seen the updated draft. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that no talks between Russian and American delegations were planned this week, though he added that Moscow remained open to further contact.
German Chancellor Merz emphasized the need for Russia to now engage in the process. Speaking from Luanda, Angola, during an EU-Africa summit, he said, “The next step must be that Russia comes to the table. This is a laborious process that will advance only in small steps. I don’t expect a breakthrough this week.”
Meanwhile, foreign ministers from Germany, Finland, France, the U.K., Italy, and Poland met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha to coordinate strategies for ending the war.
German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul praised U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the talks in Switzerland. “Rubio made decisive positive contributions to ensuring that this plan can be accepted by both the European and Ukrainian sides,” Wadephul said.
He also confirmed that references to Europe and NATO had been removed from the revised proposal, calling it a “decisive success.”
Rubio himself struck an optimistic tone. “I feel very optimistic that we can get something done,” he said Sunday, describing the talks as “very worthwhile” and the most productive day in recent diplomacy.
Turkey is also attempting to renew its role as mediator. Russian President Vladimir Putin was expected to speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later Monday to discuss past agreements, including a 2022 grain export deal. That deal, which allowed Ukraine to safely ship grain via the Black Sea, collapsed after Moscow pulled out, citing unfulfilled promises to ease its own agricultural exports.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, violence continued across Ukraine. Overnight drone strikes by Russian forces hit residential areas in Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city. Ukrainian officials reported four civilians killed and 13 wounded, including two children. The attacks damaged homes, power lines, and a school.
Photos released by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office showed homes engulfed in flames and emergency workers assessing the destruction.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 162 drones overnight, a mix of strike and decoy aircraft. Romania, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, responded to drone activity near its airspace by scrambling two Eurofighter Typhoon jets and two F-16s, according to its Defense Ministry.
As high-level negotiations continue to unfold, the war on the ground remains relentless. While the revised U.S. peace plan offers a framework for discussion, officials on all sides caution that a final resolution is still far from reach.
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