US, Ukraine work on ‘refined’ peace plan to end Russia war

TRUMP'S PLAN CRITISED AS FAVOURING RUSSIA | EUROPEAN ALLIES ISSUE COUNTER-PLAN WITH US SECURITY GUARANTEE

- MAX HUNDER, EMMA FARGE & OLIVIA LE POIDEVIN

Ukrainian servicemen ride a military buggy near the frontline town of Pokrovsk, amid the war with Russia

(PHOTO: REUTERS)

The United States and Ukraine sought on Monday to narrow the gaps in a peace plan to end the war with Russia after agreeing to modify a US proposal that Kyiv and its European allies saw as a Kremlin wish list.

Washington and Kyiv said in a joint statement they had drafted a “refined peace framework” after talks in Geneva on Sunday. Though there were no specifics, the dialogue received a cautious welcome from some of Ukraine's allies.

Ukraine’s delegation to the talks with US officials in Switzerland was returning home on Monday to report back, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

US President Donald Trump hinted at new progress.

“Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don't believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The US blindsided Kyiv and European countries with a 28-point peace plan last week, giving Ukraine until Thursday to agree to a framework to end Europe's deadliest war since World War Two.