Ukraine not grateful for US allegiance: Trump
Ukrainian, US and European officials met in Geneva to discuss Washington’s draft plan to end the war in Ukraine, after Kiev and its allies expressed concern about what they see as major concessions to an aggressive Russia.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has championed the 28-point plan, said on Sunday that Ukraine was not grateful for America’s efforts on the war, prompting Ukrainian officials to emphasize their gratitude to the U.S. president for his support.
On Friday, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had until Thursday to approve the plan calling for Ukraine to give up territory, accept limits on its military and abandon its goals of joining NATO.
For many Ukrainians, including soldiers fighting on the front lines, such terms amount to surrender after nearly four years of fighting in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. On Saturday, Trump said the current offer to end the war was not his last.
The main talks between US and Ukrainian officials began in an acrimonious atmosphere at the US mission in Geneva on Sunday afternoon with the US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio; This comes just after Trump complained in a post on Truth Social that the Ukrainian leadership showed “zero gratitude” to the United States for its efforts and that Europe continues to buy Russian oil.
Rubio interrupted the meeting to speak to reporters and said the talks were probably the best the U.S. has had with Ukraine since Trump came to power.
He said that changes will be made in the plan towards a solution that will be comfortable for both Ukraine and the USA.
“Obviously this will ultimately have to be signed with our presidents, but I feel very comfortable with that happening given the progress we’ve made,” Rubio, who arrived in Geneva with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, said.
The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Andriy Yermak, attempted to thank Trump for his commitment to Kiev during brief remarks before returning to his talks with Rubio. Minutes later, Zelenskiy personally thanked Trump.
Since the US plan was announced, there has been confusion about who was involved in its preparation. European allies said they were not consulted.
As officials began the meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the aim was to prepare a plan that could be used in negotiations with Russia and acceptable to Ukraine.
“Right now, I’m not yet convinced that we will get the solution that President Trump wants in the next few days,” Merz said on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Johannesburg. he said.
Before leaving for Geneva, Rubio insisted on X that Washington had written the plan, following statements to the contrary by some US senators.
Sen. Angus King said Rubio told senators the plan was “essentially a Russian wish list,” not the administration’s position.
The Europeans have presented a modified version of the U.S. plan for Ukraine that pushes back on proposed limits on Kiev’s armed forces and territorial concessions, according to a document seen by Reuters on Sunday.
Zelenskiy has been under pressure domestically following a major corruption scandal that has ensnared some of his ministers and members of his inner circle.
He warned that Ukraine risks losing its dignity and freedom – or Washington’s support – because of the US plan.
Zelenskiy said he welcomed the diplomatic efforts in Geneva and hoped they would lead to a result.
But the draft peace plan looks set to give the diplomatic advantage back to Moscow. Ukraine relies heavily on US intelligence and weapons to continue its war against Russia.
European and other Western leaders have said the US peace plan provides the basis for talks to end the war but more work is needed.
Putin has called the plan the basis for resolving the conflict, but Moscow may object to some proposals in the plan that call for its forces to withdraw from some captured areas.
