“I believe we have made tremendous progress. None of the unresolved issues are insurmountable. I’m very optimistic that we can reach our goals within a reasonable timeframe—very soon,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on November 23.
Rubio made the statement after a full day of meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss the peace proposal introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration aimed at ending the conflict. However, the Secretary of State noted that any agreement must be approved by both sides’ leaders, and several issues still require further discussion before attempting to persuade Russia, which initially welcomed the proposal. “Of course, Russia will have the right to offer its input,” he added.
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Rubio said he believes President Trump is “quite pleased” with the progress reported by both sides. When asked whether an agreement could be reached by November 27, as requested by Trump, Rubio said the US aims to complete the process “as soon as possible.”
Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to the Ukrainian President and head of the Ukrainian delegation, stated that the parties had made “very good progress” and were moving toward a “long-lasting, just peace that the people of Ukraine deserve.”
The Ukrainian delegation also referred to a new version of the draft peace plan proposed by Washington, saying it “reflects most of Kyiv’s key priorities.” This updated draft has not been publicly released.
The US and Ukraine later issued a joint statement noting that their discussions were “respectful, focused, and constructive,” emphasizing their shared commitment to achieving a fair and lasting peace.
“Both sides agreed that the consultations were highly productive, demonstrating significant progress in aligning positions and clearly identifying the next steps. They reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver a sustainable, just peace. Following the discussions, the parties prepared an updated peace framework,” the statement read.
The two countries agreed to continue active engagement on joint proposals in the coming days, while maintaining close coordination with European partners throughout the process. Final decisions under this framework will be made by the presidents of both nations.
The US peace plan proposed last week includes 28 points, calling on Ukraine to cede some territory, accept limits on the size of its military, and halt its pursuit of NATO membership. The proposal was drafted without consultation with European allies, who are now seeking to assert their views and safeguard Ukraine’s interests.
As negotiations continued in Geneva, President Trump criticized Ukrainian leadership for being “ungrateful” and accused European nations of failing to do enough to end the conflict.
President Zelensky later responded that Ukraine is grateful to the United States and to President Trump personally for the support that has “saved Ukrainian lives.”