US push Ukraine peace plan in Geneva amid ongoing battlefield clashes

US and Ukrainian officials began talks in Geneva on Sunday to examine a US-drafted peace proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in the Swiss city on Sunday morning. US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had arrived the previous day to lead preparatory work. 

They were joined by Ukrainian representatives and advisers from several European countries, including Britain's national security adviser Jonathan Powell. A senior U.S. official said the teams were "going in with a lot of momentum" after useful preparatory meetings the night before.

The American plan reportedly calls for Ukraine to accept Russian control over Crimea and parts of four eastern regions, limit its army size, and abandon NATO membership ambitions. In exchange, it offers security guarantees and the use of frozen Russian assets for reconstruction.

Rubio described the document as a US authored framework that includes input from both Moscow and Kyiv. He rejected suggestions that it amounts to a "Russian wish list," stressing that US military and intelligence support for Ukraine continues unchanged. 

US President Donald Trump told reporters the proposal is "not final" but urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate soon. Zelenskyy described the coming days as one of the war's most difficult moments, warning that rejecting the plan could risk Ukraine's sovereignty and future U.S. backing.

European leaders welcomed any move toward peace but said the plan requires major changes. A joint statement from France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Canada and the European Union called it a starting point that must better reflect Ukraine's interests. 

European officials have prepared a counter proposal on territorial integrity and security guarantees to present during the talks. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the US plan as a possible foundation for resolving the conflict, though Moscow objects to provisions requiring its forces to withdraw from some captured territories.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the proposal is positive because it speaks of peace, yet stressed more work is needed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said attention now centers on whether Geneva can produce progress.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said he will speak with President Zelenskyy later on Sunday about the US plan. Italy confirmed it is sending a representative to the Geneva discussions.

On the ground, Russia's Defense Ministry said its troops took control of three villages in the Donetsk region: Petrivske, Tikhe and Odradne, as they advanced toward the key hub of Pokrovsk. 

Ukraine's military reported that Russian attempts to reach the city center were repelled and defensive lines are holding. In the early hours of Sunday, Ukrainian drones hit the Shatura power and heat station in the Moscow region. The regional governor said a fire broke out but was quickly contained, with backup power activated and no supply disruptions.

With a possible U.S.-Russia meeting later this week and President Trump setting an informal Thanksgiving deadline for a Ukrainian response, the next few days could prove decisive for the conflict.