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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pictured at a meeting with President Donald Trump and European leaders at the White House in Washington on August 18, 2025. (Alexander Drago/Reuters via CNN Newsource)
By Billy Stockwell, Kit Maher, CNN
(CNN) — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio projected optimism on Sunday after what he described as productive discussions between the American and Ukrainian officials in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at stopping the war in Ukraine.
Sunday’s talks were “probably the most productive and meaningful” so far, Rubio told reporters after the first session.
He added that some adjustments to the Trump administration’s 28-point plan will be made “in the hopes of (further) narrowing the differences” between the two nations’ positions.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak called the Ukraine-US meeting “very productive” and extended his thanks to US President Donald Trump for his commitment “to bring this peace.”
The tentative signs of progress came just hours after Trump lashed out at Ukrainian leadership for showing “zero gratitude” toward US efforts to broker peace.
“UKRAINE ‘LEADERSHIP’ HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The US president has given Kyiv until Thursday to accept the US-backed proposal, which has been criticized on by members of both parties for its concessions to Russia. The plan puts pressure on Kyiv to cede territory, limit the size of its military and promise not to join NATO in exchange for an end to the war – all long-standing Kremlin demands.
After Trump’s social media post, Zelensky said that Ukraine is “grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump” for the support. Zelensky has thanked the US on many occasions since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The Ukrainian leader said on Sunday that he hoped “there will be a result” from the renewed dialogue as top US, Ukrainian and European officials met in Geneva.
Rubio met with the Ukrainian delegation alongside Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, according to a US official.
A group of Western and European leaders who met on the sidelines of the G20 in South Africa on Saturday welcomed the uptick in diplomatic efforts but expressed concern over the proposal, saying it was only “an initial draft” that “will require additional work.”
“We are clear on the principle that borders must not be changed by force. We are also concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack,” a statement from the leaders said.
Asked by CNN ahead of the Ukraine-US talks if Kyiv would reject Trump’s proposal, Yermak said they were “preparing for a constructive conversation.”
Trump cast doubt over his own timings ahead of the Geneva meeting, telling reporters on the South Lawn of the White House the plan was not his “final offer.”
In response to a CNN question about what happens if Zelensky doesn’t accept the plan by his deadline on Thursday, Trump replied, “Then he can continue to fight his little heart out.”
Earlier on Sunday, the Ukrainian delegation met with officials from the UK, Germany and France, Yermak said.
Fears of Europe being sidelined
It is unclear whether all parties would meet together. A Western diplomat told CNN there was concern that the the US “will not let us in the tent” and exclude European powers from negotiation.
One European diplomat told CNN that any future deal “cannot entail recognition of occupation. The contact line should be a point of departure.”
“There should be no removal of the right to choose alliances, no cap on Ukraine’s armed forces, or back door introduction of Russia’s demands on European security,” the diplomat said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he is “skeptical” an agreement will be reached on the US-proposed plan in time for Trump’s deadline, citing concerns over current differing viewpoints.
“I wouldn’t say pessimistic, but I’m not convinced that the solution wanted by President Trump will be reached in the next few days,” Merz said Sunday. “That doesn’t mean it’s completely impossible to reach. … But I’m sceptical whether such an outcome is possible.”
Planning for a separate meeting between a Russian delegation and the US to discuss the proposal is also in the works and “will happen quickly,” a US official said – but not in Geneva. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously said he believed the US proposal “could form the basis of a final peace settlement.”
The talks in Switzerland come ahead of a proposed meeting between EU leaders on Monday, announced by European Council President António Costa on Saturday.
In what will be a busy few days of diplomacy, French President Emmanuel Macron said the 30 countries in the “coalition of the willing” supporting Kyiv will hold a video call on Tuesday.
CNN’s Sophie Tanno, Nick Paton Walsh, Jennifer Hansler, Matthew Chance and Oren Lieberman contributed reporting.
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