The consultations in Switzerland should discuss “possible points of a future peace agreement,” said the head of the Ukrainian Security Council, Rustem Umerov, on the Facebook online service on Saturday. The upcoming talks between the USA and Ukraine are “another phase of the dialogue that has been ongoing in recent days”. The primary goal is to “align our vision for the next steps.”
Shortly before, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had signed a decree to form a Ukrainian negotiating delegation, which would be led by Presidential Office Chief Andriy Yermak. According to the decree, “representatives of the Russian Federation” will also take part in the talks. There was initially no confirmation of this from Moscow.
On Sunday, the foreign policy advisors of the so-called E3 states – France, Germany and Great Britain – want to meet with representatives of the USA and Ukraine in Geneva, as it was announced on the sidelines of the summit of the group of the most important industrialized and emerging countries (G20) in Johannesburg. Italy will also be represented at the talks, diplomats said.
According to US information, Washington will be represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also developed the US plan. The high-ranking Pentagon representative Daniel Driscoll will also take part in the discussions.
A few days ago, the US government presented Kiev with the 28-point plan to end the war, which largely accommodates Russia’s key demands and crosses red lines that Kiev has long formulated. He is demanding painful concessions from Ukraine, such as ceding large areas of eastern Ukraine to Russia, limiting troop numbers and foregoing NATO membership.
Zelenskyj rejected the US plan in its current form on Friday and announced that he would present “alternatives” to the proposal. US President Donald Trump gave Ukraine a deadline of Thursday next week to agree to the plan. Ukraine’s European allies warned that no decision on Ukraine should be made without Kiev’s participation.
However, on Saturday, Trump said the 28-point plan was not a final proposal. Asked by reporters whether the 28-point plan was his “final offer to Ukraine,” Trump replied: “No.” He added: “We’re trying to end it. One way or another we have to end it.”
Several European countries as well as Canada and Japan had previously stated on the sidelines of the G20 summit that “additional work” was needed on the US plan. The “principle that borders must not be changed by force applies,” explained a total of eleven countries, including Germany. “We are also concerned about the proposed restrictions on Ukrainian armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attacks.”
Basically, the signatories thanked the United States for its “efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.” However, “the implementation of elements that affect the European Union, as well as the implementation of elements that affect NATO, require the consent of the respective members of the EU and NATO.”
Merz said in Johannesburg that there was “a chance at the moment” to end the war. “But we are still a long way from achieving a good result together.” The Chancellor also emphasized that there could only be an agreement on Ukraine with Kiev’s “unrestricted consent”. “Wars cannot be ended by great powers acting over the heads of the affected countries.”
French President Emmanuel Macron warned in Johannesburg that a Ukraine plan “without deterrent measures” against Moscow would pose the risk of new Russian attacks. He announced a video conference of Ukraine’s allies for Tuesday afternoon.
In a joint statement, G20 summit participants called for a “just and lasting” peace in Ukraine.
