KYIV — Ukraine and the United States will begin high-level talks in Switzerland in the coming days to discuss President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end the nearly four-year-old war with Russia — a blueprint that has already alarmed Kyiv and unsettled European allies.
The announcement was made Saturday by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, who said the meeting represents the next stage of urgent consultations between the two governments.
“In the coming days in Switzerland we are launching consultations between senior officials of Ukraine and the United States on the possible parameters of a future peace agreement,” Umerov said, calling the talks part of an ongoing dialogue aimed at “aligning our vision for the next steps.”
Trump’s 28-Point Plan Pressures Kyiv
President Trump has given Ukraine less than a week to respond to his 28-point peace plan. The proposal, according to Ukrainian officials, includes major concessions to Moscow — among them:
- Ceding territory currently occupied by Russian forces
- Pulling back troops from parts of the Donetsk region
- Capping the Ukrainian military at 600,000 troops
- Permanently ruling out NATO membership or hosting alliance forces
In exchange, Ukraine would receive “reliable security guarantees” and access to a new reconstruction fund financed partly by frozen Russian assets.
Russia, under the plan, would gain de facto recognition of the territories it holds, regain entry into the global economy, and rejoin an expanded G8.
The proposal closely mirrors some of the Kremlin’s long-standing demands, drawing praise from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said the plan could “lay the foundation” for peace — while warning he would seize more land if Kyiv refuses negotiations.
Europe Scrambles for a Counter-Offer
Ukraine’s European partners were blindsided by the U.S. plan, having been excluded from the drafting process. At the G20 summit in South Africa, leaders from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom rushed to coordinate a counter-proposal to strengthen Kyiv’s position.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the new U.S. framework “accepts some of Russia’s hardline demands,” while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed how to “fortify” Ukraine’s negotiating leverage.
The G20 issued a broad call for a “just, comprehensive, and lasting peace” not only in Ukraine, but in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Palestinian territories.
Ukraine’s Dilemma: Partners or Principles?
President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the immense pressure on Kyiv, saying Ukraine may be forced to choose between “loss of dignity” or risking a rupture with its most important ally, the United States.
Zelensky said Ukraine will present alternatives to Trump’s proposal, but admitted the moment is “one of the hardest” in the nation’s history.
Russia Advances as Winter Hits Hard
On the battlefield, Russia continues to make slow gains along the 1,000-km front line, aided by superior manpower and ammunition reserves.
Millions of Ukrainians are bracing for another brutal winter after Russian forces launched a fresh wave of strikes targeting the country’s energy grid, worsening shortages and blackouts.
Compounding the crisis, a far-reaching corruption scandal inside Ukraine’s energy sector triggered public outcry just as the country prepares for the next round of international negotiations.
