The Kremlin has turned down European proposals aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite diplomatic efforts, negotiations in Geneva concluded without progress, and Russia intensified its air assaults on Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of four individuals in Kharkiv.
Britain, Germany, and France had introduced significant amendments to a contentious 28-point peace plan, which had been initially drafted by officials from the White House and the Kremlin the previous week. These amendments included preventing Russia from rejoining the G8 and increasing the maximum size of Ukraine’s military forces from 600,000 to 800,000 troops.
To attempt to break the stalemate, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was anticipated to travel to Washington, D.C. for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Monday night that no such meeting had been scheduled.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have agreed upon a new 19-point peace proposal, which has been described as a ‘refined peace framework’ in hopes of advancing towards a resolution.
In a bid to break the deadlock, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky had been expected to fly to Washington DC this week for talks with Donald Trump. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday night that no meeting had been scheduled.
US and Ukrainian officials have also agreed a new 19-point peace plan, described as a ‘refined peace framework’.
On Monday night, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister Sergiy Kyslytsya said ‘very few things are left’ from the original 28-point peace plan.
But it seems unlikely the new plan will be accepted by the Kremlin, which described these developments as ‘completely unconstructive’ and not working for Russia.
A girl reacts during a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on November 23
A father hugs his son as he reacts after his mother was killed during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine
A firefighter works at the site of a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv on November 23
On Monday President Trump had optimistically posted on social media that ‘something good’ was coming from the discussions in Geneva, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
And hopes of a breakthrough had been raised on Sunday, particularly after reports suggested European allies of Ukraine had agreed to let Russia return to the international fold following a ceasefire, including rejoining the G8 – the country’s membership was suspended following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
But that plan was dead in the water on Monday as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was the only member that wanted Russia to rejoin.
Mr Trump remains committed to proposals included in the original plan that are red lines for the Ukrainians – such as sacrificing territory and pledging not to join NATO. But Ukrainian officials said that plan represented an unacceptable capitulation to Russia.
President Zelensky has met President Trump at the White House three times so far this year and on two of those occasions he has been shouted at by his host for refusing to accede to US demands.
He is also considered to be in his most vulnerable position since the conflict began due to a corruption scandal with ministers fleecing Ukrainian taxpayers of millions of pounds.
But in an apparent bid to appease President Trump, President Zelensky told allies in a video call: ‘We all continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen not weaken us.’
President Zelensky has met President Trump at the White House three times so far this year and on two of those occasions he has been shouted at by his host for refusing to accede to US demands
On Monday President Trump had optimistically posted on social media that ‘something good’ was coming from the discussions in Geneva, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Mr Zelensky insisted Russia must pay for the war and urged European states to agree a strategy to use frozen Kremlin assets held by third-party states.
Russia is making gradual gains on the battlefield and destroying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure just as the country faces extreme weather conditions.
And on Sunday night a Russian air strike on Ukraine’s second largest city killed four people. Russian drones struck buildings in the centre of Kharkiv.
A Ukrainian counter-attack knocked out the power supplies in Moscow for tens of thousands of people.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to President Trump twice in recent days but failed to achieve a breakthrough. He is also expected to hold further talks with the Coalition of the Willing – the European nations expected to help police any future ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
The PM’s spokesman said: ‘As the US-Ukraine joint statement makes clear, yesterday’s talks were a major step towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.’
