What we're covering
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio touted “tremendous progress” in today’s talks with Ukrainian officials in Geneva, Switzerland, saying the sticking points on the Trump administration’s Russia-Ukraine peace proposal are “not insurmountable.” Ukraine has also said the delegations made good progress.
• It remains to be seen if Moscow would sign on to the terms being hammered out between Washington and Kyiv. Trump’s original 28-point peace plan had been widely considered favorable to Russia and was met with concern from European allies.
• Even as the talks progressed, President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukraine’s leaders this morning, claiming they have “expressed zero gratitude” for his efforts to end the war. Ukraine’s president has repeatedly thanked the US publicly. Rubio later signaled that those tensions had been smoothed over and said Trump is “pleased” with the progress.
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Rubio departs Geneva after talks with Ukrainian officials
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has departed Geneva, Switzerland, and is heading back to Washington, DC, following high-level meetings on a peace plan for Ukraine, a senior State Department official said today.
Rubio indicated that discussions would continue on a technical level as he expressed optimism “that we’re going to get there in a very reasonable period of time, very soon.”
It’s not clear whether other US officials have left Geneva, though Rubio said earlier that “we have all kinds of people at technical levels that are working full time on this and engaged in this full time.”
Earlier today, Rubio heralded “tremendous progress” following meetings with Ukrainian officials to end the war, calling the discussions “the most productive day in the entirety of our efforts.”
The final agreement, he noted, will require sign-off from US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia will also need to sign off on the plan.
White House says Ukrainians believe current draft of peace plan "reflects their national interests"
The White House said today that the Ukrainians believe the current draft of a peace plan to end the war “reflects their national security interests,” after “revisions and clarifications” were made with input from top US, Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva, Switzerland.
A draft 28-point plan had faced criticism for appearing to favor Russia. But the White House said in a statement today that Ukraine’s key concerns were “thoroughly addressed” and “today marked a significant step forward.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had praised the “substantive” results from the meeting. “Much is changing: We are working very carefully on the steps needed to end the war,” he said in a video address posted on Telegram.
Separately, Ukraine also expressed its gratitude toward the US and President Donald Trump in a joint statement released by the White House.
Just this morning, Trump lashed out at Ukrainian leadership for what he called a lack of gratitude, and it seems the Ukrainians have responded, in kind, with several mentions of thanks to the US and Trump.
Zelensky posted on X that “Ukraine is grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump” for assistance that has saved Ukrainian lives.
Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak told reporters, “We thank our big friends, United States, and personally President Trump and his team to their commitment to bring this peace.”
Democrat slams Trump’s initial peace proposal as a "surrender plan" for Ukraine
The draft of the Trump administration’s 28-point Ukraine peace plan that has been viewed publicly amounts to a surrender, Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said today.
The New York Democrat accused the Trump administration of essentially giving “Russia more than Russia would’ve asked for.” Meanwhile, Moscow will give up “absolutely nothing,” he claimed.
Meeks said the deal sends the wrong message to European allies.
Key context: The original draft of the Trump administration’s proposal has been widely criticized for being too favorable to Russia, as it would concede many long-standing Kremlin demands.
After talks in Geneva today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the proposal is a “living, breathing document” that is shifting in response to input from Ukraine and other parties. Rubio said “the items that remain open are not insurmountable,” and the Ukrainian delegation also emerged from the talks with a positive assessment.
The current outline of the proposal — and whether it’s one Moscow would ever sign on to — remains to be seen.
Watch the interview with Meeks:
CNN’s Kit Maher, Svitlana Vlasova and Mitchell McCluskey contributed to this post.
Where things stand following key meetings between US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva
Top US diplomats and Ukrainian officials are expressing optimism after holding talks in Geneva today, though it remains to be seen if Moscow would sign on to the terms the two sides have been discussing.
The positive messaging came despite President Donald Trump lashing out at Kyiv’s leaders this morning, claiming they have “expressed zero gratitude” for his efforts to end the war with Russia, despite many examples to the contrary.
If you’re just joining us, here’s the latest on the talks and potential peace plan:
- What US officials are saying: Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Geneva gathering the “most productive and meaningful meeting so far in this entire process.” He signaled that Trump’s frustration with the Ukrainian side had been smoothed over and said the president is “pleased” with the progress. The two sides are now making adjustments to Trump’s original 28-point framework, according to Rubio.
- What Ukrainian officials are saying: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the “substantive” results, saying in a video address that “there are signs that President Trump’s team is listening” to their side. The Ukrainian delegation in Geneva reported “a very productive first session.”
- A “living, breathing document”: Rubio said the administration’s peace plan — the original draft of which was criticized for being too favorable to Russia — was “built on a foundation of input from all the relevant parties involved here.” He said the terms laid out in the framework have shifted and evolved, and that “the items that remain open are not insurmountable.”
- Trump’s deadline: Rubio also indicated that the Thursday deadline originally set by Trump for Ukraine to accept the proposal is fluid. “Whether it’s Thursday, whether it’s Friday, whether it’s Wednesday, whether it’s Monday of the following week, we want it to be soon, because people are going to die,” Rubio said.
CNN’s Svitlana Vlasova, Mitchell McCluskey, Kit Maher, Nina Subkhanberdina and Betsy Klein contributed to this post.
Reuters: European leaders have made a counter-proposal that differs significantly from the US draft
Europe’s E3 powers of Britain, France and Germany created a counter-proposal to the United States’ 28-point Ukraine peace plan, according to Reuters, which saw the text on Sunday.
The text was confirmed as accurate by one European official and one European diplomatic source speaking to CNN’s chief international security correspondent Nick Paton Walsh.
One of those officials said the text was an accurate reflection of European bids to change the US draft proposal, but that further alterations could have been made during fast-moving talks in Geneva today.
Here’s how the plan differs: Among the key changes included in the counter-proposal was a softening of the language around restricting NATO in Europe.
The European version also removed mention of territorial concessions. The regions of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk were all explicitly recognized as de facto Russian in the US plan. In the new European proposal, all recognitions of Russian control are removed. It demands a ceasefire before determining territorial swaps, and that the current front line be the basis for any future discussions.
The Europeans also removed the 100-day deadline for elections in Ukraine, instead saying elections will be held as soon as possible after the signing of the peace agreement.
The European proposal removes all references to US-Russia investment structures, shifting toward an approach where Russia pays reparations to Ukraine.
It also said the size of Ukraine’s military would be “capped at 800,000 in peacetime,” which is the amount of military personnel it currently has, compared to limit of 600,000 stated in the US-plan.
Zelensky says there are "signs that President Trump's team is listening to us"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the “substantive” results from diplomatic discussions held today in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Much is changing: We are working very carefully on the steps needed to end the war,” Zelensky said in a video address posted to his Telegram channel this evening.
As the delegates headed into today’s talks, US President Donald Trump had accused the Ukrainians of showing insufficient gratitude for US efforts — echoing a past criticism that’s at odds with Kyiv’s public record of thanking US leaders.
But Zelensky said “there are signs that President Trump’s team is listening” to their side.
He also urged Ukrainians not to send “conflicting signals” and to maintain unity in their messaging.
The Ukrainian president held discussions with several world leaders today, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the prime ministers of Canada, Croatia and Luxembourg.
You can watch a portion of Zelensky’s comments below:
Rubio indicates Thursday deadline for Ukraine to accept deal could shift
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated Sunday that the Thursday deadline set by President Donald Trump for Ukraine to accept the United States’ peace proposal is fluid.
“Whether it’s Thursday, whether it’s Friday, whether it’s Wednesday, whether it’s Monday of the following week, we want it to be soon, because people are going to die,” Rubio said.
Rubio said the US recognizes that Ukraine needs to have security guarantees as part of a peace proposal, but he did not delve into specifics of what was discussed.
“I think we all recognize that part of getting a final end to this war will require for Ukraine to feel as it is safe and it is never going to be invaded or attacked again,” Rubio said.
While Rubio said it’s “possible” a call between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky could occur later, he said was unsure.
Rubio calls peace proposal "a living, breathing document"
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the 28-point peace plan for the end of the war in Ukraine continues to change with input from the parties involved, calling the moment “very delicate.”
Russia was not involved in Sunday’s talks in Geneva, Switzerland, between the US and Ukraine.
Rubio declined to get into the specifics when pressed by CNN’s Matthew Chance on whether the Ukrainians have indicated they are prepared to compromise, given that it’s “an ongoing process.”
“Just because it’s printed on a piece of paper doesn’t indicate finality, so you get input, and based on that input, you make adjustments and then you get more input,” Rubio said.
Rubio noted that “the Russians get a vote here” and will be consulted in the next step toward peace.
“Obviously, we now have to take what we come up with — if we can reach that agreement with the Ukrainian side — to the Russian side,” he said.
Trump is “pleased” with progress in Ukraine talks, Rubio says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Sunday that he conveyed to President Donald Trump that talks with Ukrainian officials were “very positive” and that the president is “pleased” with the progress.
“It was very positive — I’m telling you today was the most productive,” Rubio said upon conclusion of Sunday’s discussions in Geneva, Switzerland.
Pressed by CNN’s Matthew Chance on Trump’s comments earlier in the day lashing out at Ukraine for what the president described as a lack of gratitude, Rubio signaled those tensions had been smoothed over.
Trump said in a social media post earlier that “Ukraine’s ‘leadership’ has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts.”
Rubio said he had subsequently spoken with the president.
“Today — and we’ve talked to him since — I think he’s quite pleased at the reports we’ve given him about the amount of progress that’s been made,” he said.
Rubio touts "tremendous progress" in Ukraine talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio heralded “tremendous progress” following diplomatic talks with Ukrainian officials to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, calling Sunday’s discussions “the most productive day in the entirety of our efforts.”
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, Rubio touted “extensive engagement” from Ukraine on the US-backed 28-point peace plan, which is widely considered favorable to Russia.
Going into the talks, he said, there was “one goal” — to “try to narrow” the disagreements around key points.
“We have achieved that today in a very substantial way,” Rubio said.
The final agreement, he noted, will require sign-off from US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russia will also need to sign off on the plan to end the nearly four-year war.
There are still some sticking points, Rubio said, characterizing the outstanding issues as “a couple issues that we need to continue to work on.”
Here's what we heard from the US and Ukraine in Geneva earlier today
We heard from both the US and Ukrainian delegations after the early session of talks in Geneva, with each side projecting optimism.
In case you missed it, here’s US Secretary of State Marco Rubio first. Rubio described the meeting as the “most productive and meaningful” so far:
And here’s Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian presidential office, who also said the sides were making progress today:
We may hear more from the two sides this evening, and we’ll have updates for you as we learn more.
Jared Kushner is part of the US delegation in Geneva
President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is part of the US delegation meeting with Ukrainian officials in Geneva.
Kushner has played a key role at times in US diplomacy in the Middle East and elsewhere during Trump’s first and second term.
The Trump administration has been rushing to move forward a deal to end the war in Ukraine in the weeks since a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which Kushner also helped broker.
The delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Other members include special envoy Steve Witkoff, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, State Department counselor Mike Needham, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexis Grynkewich, deputy national security adviser Andy Baker, and the top US diplomat in Ukraine, Julie Davis.
Delegates in Geneva express optimism even as questions around US-proposed peace plan persist
It’s been a rollercoaster 24 hours — with confusion and uncertainty among Ukrainian and European diplomats on whether Washington’s 28-point peace plan was final or marked the basis for further negotiation.
Earlier in the day, when I asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio whether the US would turn its back on Ukraine if it rejected the peace proposal, Rubio stormed past, stony-faced.
Hours later, he came out to speak to the press — alongside Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak — and seemed more upbeat. Both Rubio and Yermak were speaking of progress and appeared to be in a positive frame of mind.
Intensive face-to-face negotiations are now continuing into the evening here in Geneva with US and Ukrainian officials indicating they may have more to say on the outcome of the talks later tonight.
But the big question remains whether the process underway right now may be the beginning of the end of the war in Ukraine or yet another performative dead end.
"Peace must be dignified," Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call for a strong and lasting peace as US and Ukrainian delegations hold talks in Geneva.
Zelensky said the “crux of the entire diplomatic situation” is that Russia has refused to end its invasion.
“Putin has been waging this war with complete disregard for how many of his own people he loses and how many of ours he kills,” Zelensky wrote in an X post today.
The Ukrainian leader said he was grateful to President Donald Trump and European leaders for engaging in discussions about the US-proposed peace deal. His comments come after Trump accused Ukraine’s leaders of showing “zero gratitude” for US assistance, despite Zelensky and others repeatedly thanking the president publicly.
Slotkin says she urged troops not to follow illegal orders due to concerns over domestic deployments
Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said she was mostly concerned with the use of the US military on domestic soil when she recently taped a video alongside fellow Democrats advising service members to refuse illegal orders the Trump administration might issue.
Slotkin advised service members to speak to their judge advocate general officers to “ask them for explanation, for top cover, for their view on things.”
“It is very clear that no one should follow an illegal order, but it’s very murky when you look at, what is an illegal order, and if you go into morally, ethically, that’s a pretty tough thing to look at and say, ‘How do I navigate this?’” she added.
President Donald Trump reacted furiously to the video last week, suggesting the lawmakers’ actions were, “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”
Slotkin criticized Trump’s response, though she said it won’t prevent her from continuing to speak her mind. “But obviously the president took issue with one sentence in a video and was calling for our death. I think that’s inappropriate,” Slotkin said.
While the president’s call to arrest the lawmakers — which he doubled down on today — has been roundly criticized by Democrats, the remarks have also attracted some rare criticism from Republicans.
GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky rebuked Trump’s rhetoric toward the six Democrats today, calling the president’s behavior “reckless, inappropriate, irresponsible” in an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Ukrainian official says meeting with US delegation was very productive
Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of the Ukrainian president’s office, said the Ukrainian delegation had “a very productive first session” with US officials in Geneva today, as talks continue to bring an end to the war with Russia.
President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukrainian leadership on social media this morning for what he described as a lack of gratitude. In his remarks to reporters, Yermak thanked the US president: “We thank our big friends, United States, and personally President Trump and his team for their commitment to bring this peace.”
It marked another example of the many times Ukrainian officials have publicly expressed appreciation for the administration.
Yermak said the group would continue working today and join proposals in the coming days.
Rubio says meeting with Ukrainian officials was "most productive and meaningful" so far
Secretary of State Marco Rubio projected optimism after what he described as productive discussions between the US and Ukrainian officials in Geneva today.
Rubio described the administration’s 28-point peace plan, which has been criticized on both sides of the aisle for its concessions to Russia, as a “very good work product,” and said it was “built on a foundation of input from all the relevant parties involved here.”
According to a draft, its provisions would include Kyiv ceding territory to Russia, giving up any ambitions to join NATO, and limiting the size of its army.
US and Ukrainian officials, Rubio said, are now meeting separately to work through some adjustments to the plan, with the hopes “of further narrowing the differences.”
Ultimately, he added, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will need to approve the plan. Rubio said he felt “very comfortable about that happening, given the progress we’ve made.”
Russia will also need to sign off on the plan.
Rubio said there would be additional updates later today.
Talks with Ukraine "conclusive in some areas," US official says
The US says talks with Ukraine today in Geneva have been “productive and even conclusive in some areas” as they discussed President Donald Trump’s 28-point proposal to end the war with Russia.
The US-backed proposal has come under fire from critics who say it is too friendly to Russia.
While it’s important for Ukraine to iron out its differences with the US, the ultimate test will be if it can come to an agreement with Moscow.
Meanwhile, here's a snapshot of what else is happening in Washington
While we await further updates on the Russia-Ukraine talks in Geneva, let’s update you on some of the other stories we’ve been reporting from Washington in the last 24 hours.
- MTG resignation aftermath: Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene denied a report that her decision to resign from Congress in January is driven by a desire to enter the 2028 presidential race. Greene announced on Friday that she will resign from office in January, stunning some in her own party after a shocking, months-long political pivot that catapulted her from one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies to one of his top antagonists.
- Vaccine contradictions: GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician who cast a key vote to confirm Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., repeatedly stressed vaccine safety in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” after Kennedy ordered the Centers for Disease Control to update its website to contradict claims that vaccines don’t cause autism.
- Pushback on recession fears: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he does not believe the United States is at risk of going into a recession next year, saying Trump’s tax policies, trade deals and efforts to broker peace in global conflicts will provide a boost. Americans are grappling with a deepening affordability crisis.
- Mamdani doubles down: New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said on “Meet the Press” today that he still believes Trump is a fascist, days after both men held a friendly meeting at the White House.
- Tipped income rebate checks: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that Americans with tipped income and overtime essentially received the $2,000 rebate checks proposed by Trump.
- Latest on Venezuela tensions: Tomorrow, the US is expected to designate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization. The designation of “Cartel de los Soles,” will authorize Trump to impose fresh sanctions. It doesn’t, however, explicitly authorize the use of lethal force, according to legal experts.
CNN’s Ali Main, Manu Raju, Auzinea Bacon, Natasha Bertrand, Avery Schmitz and Kylie Atwood contributed to this post.
