Europeans hail progress in US-led Ukraine peace talks

European officials welcomed on Monday what they said were steps in the right direction at talks in Geneva on US peace proposals seen as heavily favouring Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, but they offered few details and warned the discussions still have a long way to go.

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"The negotiations were a step forward, but there are still major issues which remain to be resolved," Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote on social platform X about Sunday's meeting in Switzerland.

The talks went over a 28-point peace proposal presented last week by the United States that triggered alarm in Kyiv and European capitals by heavily favouring Moscow's demands.

The plan pressed Ukraine to consent to handing over some of its territory to Moscow and slashing the size of its army, leaving it vulnerable. The proposal also sought Europe's agreement that Ukraine will never be admitted into the Nato military alliance, though the alliance has previously said Ukraine is on an "irreversible path" to membership.

The surprise emergence of the peace plan coincided with a bleak period for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the war less than three months shy of its fourth anniversary.

It is under severe strain on the front line against Russia’s bigger army, it is short of money, and Zelensky is trying to defuse a major corruption scandal that has tainted his government.