Laura Gozziand
Patrick Jackson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed approval of the proposed modifications to the contentious 28-point peace initiative aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia.
It seems that Ukraine’s European partners have drafted a revised iteration of the plan, having dismissed sections that aligned with Russia’s military objectives.
“Currently, the framework for necessary actions to conclude the conflict has become achievable…” Zelensky mentioned on Telegram. “Numerous appropriate components have been integrated into this structure.”
Subsequently, in the early hours of Tuesday, Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a barrage of Russian missile and drone strikes impacted a residential building in the capital, causing disruptions to electrical and water services.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy further confirmed a “significant, coordinated assault” on the nation’s energy infrastructure facilities.
“Energy officials will initiate evaluations of the impact and restoration efforts as soon as the security conditions allow,” it stated in an announcement.
US and Ukrainian delegates convened in Geneva on Sunday to deliberate the plan, which was conceived by American and Russian representatives in October, creating alarm in Kyiv and its European allies.
Russian delegates did not participate in the discussions in Switzerland.
A Kremlin representative dismissed the changes on Monday as “utterly unconstructive”.
In another update, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that the Trump administration was not showing favoritism toward Russia in its endeavors to conclude the conflict.
“The notion that the United States of America is not engaging with both parties equally in this war to bring it to a conclusion is a total and absolute fallacy,” she informed journalists.
President Donald Trump was “hopeful and optimistic” that a solution could be established for ending the conflict, Leavitt added.
After the Geneva discussions concluded, Trump proposed on social media that “something positive may be occurring” but cautioned: “Don’t trust it until you see it.”
In Geneva, the discussions began with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denying that the 28-point plan promoted by Trump had been drafted by the Kremlin, as several of its details appeared to be heavily aligned with Moscow’s long-standing demands.
Zelensky indicated on Monday night that the updated plan was “truly the appropriate strategy”.
“I will discuss the sensitive matters, the most delicate points, with President Trump,” he added, without specifying a timeframe.
According to a source in Zelensky’s office, the 28-point plan that leaked on Friday has been rendered obsolete.
In a conversation with the Financial Times, Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergiy Kyslytsa, who partook in the weekend discussions in Geneva, stated that the revised plan included only 19 points, with some of the most politically sensitive aspects, such as territorial concessions, now needing to be resolved by the leaders personally.
A virtual “coalition of the willing” meeting of Ukraine’s European allies is set to occur on Tuesday to examine progress, as announced by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
He stated there was still work to accomplish for a “just and enduring peace” in Ukraine.
In Moscow, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov informed reporters: “At first glance, the European proposal… is entirely unconstructive and does not serve our interests.”
Zelensky earlier on Monday expressed that the “primary issue” continued to be Putin’s request for legal acknowledgment of the territory Russia has seized.
Statements from Trump suggesting that Ukraine had until November 27 to accept the agreement or risk losing US backing created urgency in Europe on Friday, leading to swift arrangements for discussions between Ukrainian and US officials.
The counter-proposals – reportedly composed by the UK, France, and Germany – excluded any acknowledgment of regions held by Russia, increased Ukraine’s allowed military size, and maintained the possibility for Ukraine to join NATO.
Russia has persistently demanded a complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the entire eastern Donbas, which consists of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russia also occupies Crimea and vast areas of two other regions, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago, tens of thousands of soldiers and thousands of civilians have been killed or wounded, with millions displaced from their homes.
