The United States has dropped its rigid demand that Ukraine agree to a controversial, 28-point peace plan by November 27. German news outlet Bild reported this, citing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who confirmed that the timeline is now significantly more flexible.
According to Rubio, Washington is no longer insisting on a firm date for Kyiv's response. He stated that while it is desirable to finalize the document as soon as possible, "whether it happens on Thursday, Friday, Wednesday, or even next Monday is secondary." Bild notes that these statements effectively remove the previous ultimatum-style deadline.
Negotiations surrounding the peace plan are ongoing in Geneva, involving representatives from Ukraine, the US, the EU, the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. The talks focus on an updated version of the document, which had previously been criticized for offering excessive concessions to Moscow. European states demanded substantial changes, and the White House assured late Sunday night that the revised version "does not violate Ukraine's sovereignty."
Following the latest round of consultations, the US and Ukraine agreed on an updated framework for the future document. In a joint statement, Washington emphasized that any further decisions "must ensure full respect for Ukrainian sovereignty and deliver a just and sustainable peace."
It was separately noted that the final decisions will be made personally by Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump. Furthermore, the US promised to continue consultations with its European partners.
The new draft of the document takes several Ukrainian priorities into account. According to European diplomats, Kyiv is not being asked to cede any territories that Ukraine currently controls to Moscow, nor is there any discussion of the de facto recognition of occupied regions. Moreover, the updated version includes enhanced security guarantees.
In an address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he saw signs of the American side's willingness to consider Ukrainian positions: "There are signals that President Trump's team hears us. Diplomacy has gained a new impetus—and that's important." He stressed that for Ukraine, the key principles remain "a sustainable peace, guaranteed security, and respect for all who gave their lives for our independence."
Meanwhile, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) emphasize that Moscow will reject any negotiation proposals that do not amount to Kyiv's de facto capitulation. The organization's report states that the Kremlin's positions show an unwillingness to agree to any plan that does not destroy Ukrainian statehood and deprive Ukraine of its right to self-defense.
ISW explicitly notes that Russia will only accept an option that is "tantamount to a Ukrainian surrender," as its demands include demilitarization, Ukraine's waiver of sovereignty, and unacceptable territorial concessions. Statements by Russian officials, who called even the softened European proposals "completely unacceptable," confirm this.