President Donald Trump signalled on Saturday that the U.S. proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war is still open to revision, stressing that the document is not a “final offer” to Kyiv. His remarks came just hours after a bloc of European and NATO-aligned countries urged Washington to make substantial adjustments to the draft, which many believe currently tilts in Moscow’s favour. Trump is pressuring Ukraine to respond to the plan by November 27, but when asked whether Kyiv was facing a take-it-or-leave-it offer, he insisted the proposal remained flexible. He added that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refuses, he can “fight his little heart out,” while again claiming that the war itself would never have erupted had he been president at the time.
Complicating matters further, U.S. Senator Mike Rounds said the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, privately informed senators that the 28-point peace plan was originally based on a Russian-authored document. The State Department has not publicly addressed this claim, but it has heightened political anxiety surrounding the proposal.
Against this backdrop, senior national-security officials from the U.S., UK, France, Germany and Ukraine will convene in Geneva on Sunday to rework the framework. Kyiv has voiced deep reservations, with Zelenskyy describing the moment as “one of the most difficult” in Ukraine’s modern history. Washington’s deadline looms, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautiously welcomed the draft as a potential “basis” for a future settlement.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the American side in Geneva, while the UK will be represented by National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell. At the G20 summit in Johannesburg, a coalition of Western leaders—including those from Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, Canada, Ireland, Finland and the Netherlands—issued a joint statement saying the U.S. proposal “is a basis which will require additional work.” They underscored that borders “must not be changed by force” and expressed concern about military limits that could leave Ukraine exposed to renewed Russian aggression.
Leaked details of the proposal indicate it would require Ukraine to give up territory it still controls in Donetsk and accept Russia’s continued occupation of Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea. It would also freeze current front lines in parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and cap Ukraine’s military at 600,000 troops. European combat aircraft would be stationed in Poland as part of a broader security arrangement. In exchange, Russia could gradually be reintegrated into the global economy through phased sanctions relief and potentially even be invited back into the G7.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he spoke with both Trump and Zelenskyy about the proposal during the G20 summit and emphasized the need for Ukraine to maintain the ability to defend itself. He specifically questioned the troop-cap provision. Kyiv, meanwhile, has adopted a restrained but cautious stance. Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine may face a painful choice—“either losing dignity, or risk losing a key partner”—but pledged to protect the nation’s sovereignty. He appointed his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, to lead the negotiating team, vowing they would guard Ukraine’s long-term security and prevent Russia from regrouping for another offensive.
Ukraine remains highly dependent on U.S. military aid and intelligence support as Russian troops continue slow but sustained advances in parts of the southeast. Putin has acknowledged receipt of the U.S. plan but warned that Russia is prepared for either outcome—negotiations or prolonged conflict.
