Diplomacy in Geneva wrapped up with US and Ukrainian officials saying talks had moved forward, but the biggest obstacle remains unresolved: Moscow's insistence on formal recognition of territory it now controls. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the steps taken in the meetings but warned that accepting Russian claims to occupied areas would violate Ukraine's territorial integrity and reward aggression. The discussions did not include Russian representatives, and the Kremlin said it had not been briefed on the outcome. A Kremlin aide also acknowledged adjustments had been made to the plan that had previously drawn President Vladimir Putin's approval. Last week a 28-point draft peace proposal, prepared by US and Russian officials, was shown to Kyiv. Several of its provisions appeared to align with long-standing Russian demands, prompting alarm in Ukraine and among some European partners. Comments from US President Donald Trump — who said on social media that “something good just may be happening” but cautioned against premature optimism — and remarks pressuring Ukraine to decide quickly helped create a sense of urgency across Europe. US senator Marco Rubio described the Geneva talks as making significant progress and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement. Yet European leaders were more cautious: Poland's Donald Tusk said he was uncertain whether talks had moved the process closer to peace, and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the negotiations likely to be long and complex. Behind the scenes, Britain, France and Germany reportedly drew up an alternative that rejects recognition of Russian-held regions, allows Ukraine a larger defensive force and keeps membership in NATO on the table. Rubio said he had not seen that proposal, and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov dismissed it as unconstructive. Next steps remain unclear. Kyiv is expected to discuss the matter directly with President Trump before a revised draft is shared with Moscow, and the Kremlin said there were no plans this week for US-Russian talks. Britain has scheduled a virtual meeting of a “coalition of the willing” to review developments and seek a path toward a just, lasting peace. The Geneva talks underscored a fundamental tension: the search for an end to fighting versus Ukraine's insistence on defending its sovereignty. For now, negotiators say progress has been made, but how to bridge the gap over territory remains the central, unresolved question.
