Crucial Geneva Talks on Trump's Proposal for Ukraine Peace

Senior officials from the United States, Ukraine, and key European allies are meeting in Geneva today to discuss Washington's draft peace plan for Ukraine. President Trump has given Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until Thursday to accept a 28-point proposal that could reshape the nearly three-year conflict.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Geneva for the talks, joined by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. Ukraine confirmed its participation, while national security advisers from France, Britain, and Germany are also attending. Italy is sending a representative as well.

The timing reflects Trump's push to deliver on his campaign promise to end the war quickly. But the tight deadline creates pressure on all sides. A US official said they hope to "settle the final details" but stressed that "nothing will be agreed until the two presidents meet together" - referring to a potential Trump-Zelensky summit.

For Ukraine, this represents a critical moment. Zelensky has maintained that any peace deal must respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. But with Trump taking a more transactional approach than his predecessor, Ukraine may face difficult choices about what compromises it's willing to make.

The European presence signals that any deal will need broader Western backing to succeed. France, Britain, and Germany have been Ukraine's strongest supporters after the US, providing both military aid and diplomatic cover. Their involvement suggests the peace plan likely includes security guarantees or reconstruction commitments that would require European participation.

Markets are watching closely. A credible peace framework could affect everything from energy prices to defense spending across Europe. But past ceasefire attempts have failed, and Russia hasn't indicated whether it would accept any US-brokered deal.

The 28-point structure suggests a comprehensive approach covering military, political, and economic aspects. Previous peace efforts have stumbled over details like territorial boundaries, security arrangements, and reconstruction funding. Whether this attempt can bridge those gaps remains unclear, but the high-level participation shows all sides are taking it seriously.