Former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested over the weekend that “big progress” may be underway in efforts to advance a U.S. backed peace plan for Ukraine, even as President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a stark warning against any proposal that involves ceding territory to Russia, according to BBC News.
Trump, commenting on the latest round of talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Geneva, urged caution but hinted at potential movement. “Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening,” he said, offering one of his most optimistic remarks to date on the conflict.
Zelensky, however, pushed back forcefully. In a video address to a security conference in Sweden, he said the idea of trading land for peace remains the “main problem” in ongoing discussions. Russian President Vladimir Putin, he warned, “wants legal recognition of what he has stolen,” adding that Ukraine will not accept any agreement that legitimizes Moscow’s territorial claims. Later in the day, Zelensky reiterated that “borders cannot be changed by force.”
The debate over the emerging 28-point peace proposal has intensified in Europe. Several EU leaders sharply criticized the draft after it leaked last week, arguing that it leaned too heavily in Russia’s favor and risked undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty. Critics say any plan that rewards aggression could set a dangerous precedent for European security.
U.S. officials said the Geneva meeting resulted in “revisions and clarifications” to the proposal, though they did not specify what changes were made. Russia, meanwhile, claimed it has not yet received any updated documents and continues to insist that its territorial demands must be recognized as part of any settlement.
As the diplomatic maneuvering deepens, both Kyiv and Washington appear to be seeking a formula that balances battlefield realities with long-term security guarantees while avoiding concessions Ukraine says it cannot accept.
