The first session of negotiations between the Ukrainian delegation and representatives from the USA took place in Geneva, led by Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office. According to him, the meeting was constructive and allowed for significant progress towards a fair and sustainable peace for Ukraine.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“I want to confirm: we had a very productive first meeting with the esteemed American delegation. We made very good progress and are moving forward towards a just and lasting peace. The Ukrainian people deserve this peace more than anyone and strive for it,” he emphasized.
Andriy Yermak also expressed gratitude to the United States and personally to President Donald Trump for their support of the peace process. He noted that today, November 23, a second session of negotiations is scheduled, during which European partners will also join the discussions. Final decisions on key issues will be made by the presidents of the countries.
International Format of Negotiations and Positions of the Parties
The Ukrainian delegation, formed at the request of President Volodymyr Zelensky, is led by Andriy Yermak. High-ranking officials from the USA are present at the negotiations in Geneva, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who recently visited Kyiv. Leading advisors to the heads of these institutions, as well as representatives from Great Britain, are participating from the European Union and the European Commission.
The main topic of the negotiations has been the peace initiatives proposed by Washington. However, as Ukraine’s allies note, several points of this plan may be beneficial for the Russian Federation. EU leaders emphasized the day before that they support the USA’s efforts to end the war but highlighted the need to refine the 28-point plan, the details of which have already partially become known to the public.
Position of the European Union and Key Proposals
The European Union officially stated its readiness to participate in the peace process, adhering to the principle of the inviolability of state borders by force. The document published on the European Commission’s website contains the fundamental position of EU leaders regarding the inadmissibility of changing borders under pressure.
According to The Washington Post, among the proposals prepared by European leaders is the rejection of the limitation on the number of Ukrainian Armed Forces as stipulated in the American plan, the return of control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and Kinburn Spit to Ukraine, as well as the exclusion of the possibility of transferring the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region to the Russian Federation until a ceasefire is established. Territorial issues are proposed to be discussed only after a ceasefire is achieved.