“Crunch talks: Trump and Zelensky face the toughest questions on a US peace plan”

Donald Trump’s U.S. peace proposal for ending the war in Ukraine has moved from headlines into high-stakes diplomacy, with plans for direct discussions between President Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky to hammer out the most contentious elements. Senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva this week to “update and refine” the plan, a process described as narrowing differences ahead of talks that leaders hope will produce a framework to halt nearly four years of fighting. Reuters

At the center of the controversy are terms that Kyiv and many Western allies view as unduly favorable to Moscow: territorial concessions, limits on Ukrainian military capabilities, and constraints on future NATO ambitions. Trump has publicly said Zelensky will have to approve any U.S.-backed deal, framing the matter as one that must be acceptable to Kyiv even as he presses for a quick resolution. Reuters

Ukrainian officials — and many Ukrainians at home and on the front lines — have reacted with skepticism and alarm. For many, the proposed terms would amount to ceding hard-fought territory and curbing Ukraine’s sovereign choices, which opponents liken to appeasement. The backlash has been vocal, with critics pointing out the political sensitivities of asking a country under invasion to make major territorial compromises. The Guardian

Still, Kyiv’s leadership is not entirely dismissive. President Zelensky has said Ukraine is engaging in the talks and stressed the importance of workable security guarantees and of being at the center of any negotiation that determines its future. In public remarks he has stressed that while solutions must be found, they cannot be imposed on Ukraine without its buy-in. Reuters+1

Diplomats in Geneva say the immediate objective is practical: refine the draft text so that it can be presented to the principals (Trump, Zelensky and potentially other leaders) without unraveling Western unity. European partners are reported to be working on a parallel approach — pushing for stronger security guarantees for Kyiv in exchange for any concessions — highlighting a diplomatic tug-of-war between a rapid settlement and a settlement that preserves Ukraine’s long-term security and sovereignty. Reuters

What happens next will hinge on three variables: whether Zelensky can accept terms that his country and armed forces can live with; whether Trump can secure a deal that placates critics while still persuading Moscow to stop fighting; and whether European allies will back a framework that reins in Ukraine’s options. Given the stakes — lives, territory, and the future of European security — the coming talks are likely to be among the most closely watched and divisive diplomatic moments since the war began. Reuters+1