Russia-Ukraine Live Updates: NATO Leader Warns Trump, Pea...

U.S.-Ukraine talks in Geneva have produced a "refined" version of President Donald Trump's draft peace plan to end Russia's ongoing invasion of its neighbor. Ukraine and its European allies had viewed the initial draft as weighted heavily in Russia's favor, crossing a number of their red lines. But there is still much work to do.

What To Know

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine's Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak hailed "highly productive" Geneva talks where they "drafted an updated and refined peace framework" ahead of Trump's Thanksgiving deadline for Kyiv to decide on the plan.
Joint U.S.-Ukraine statement: "The discussions showed meaningful progress toward aligning positions and identifying clear next steps...Final decisions under this framework will be made by the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States."
Specific details of the revised framework and the changes made to the original 28-point draft were not released. Russia had welcomed the original version, with President Vladimir Putin calling it a "basis" on which a deal could be made.
European allies stressed that no decisions about the EU or NATO can be taken without the consultation and consent of members of both. They came up with their own 28-point counter-proposal to Trump's.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb, whose country is in the EU and NATO, said there are still "major issues" to be resolved after he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday morning.
Stubb, whilst welcoming the "step forward" in negotiations, warned: "Any decision falling in the remit of EU or NATO will be discussed and decided by EU and NATO members in a separate track."
Hungary, an outlier in the EU and NATO, which has warm relations with Moscow, accused Western allies of seeking to block the peace plan. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said: "Our position is clear: every European politician has a duty to support this plan fully and unconditionally, as this is the rational and humane choice."
Zelensky may visit the White House this week if enough progress is made on the framework and a deal looks likely. Meanwhile, the war rages on in Ukraine. Trump had attacked Zelensky on Sunday amid the Geneva talks and said the Ukrainian leadership had "EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS".

Stay with Newsweek for live coverage.

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Nov 24, 2025 at 04:52 AM EST

Is Russia winning the war in Ukraine?

Russia certainly has a battlefield advantage because it is a far larger military power than Ukraine, with deeper domestic resources across weaponry and manpower. But there is little more than a stalemate in eastern Ukraine, with Russia making small advances against a fierce defense by Kyiv's Western-supplied forces.

Ukraine is also imposing a cost on the Russian oil sector with regular strikes on key pieces of infrastructure at the heart of Moscow's war economy.

There is little prospect of Ukraine winning the war against Russia without direct Western intervention, which is very unlikely to happen short of Moscow launching war on NATO too.

Yet Russia's path to victory is also long and uncertain, analysts say. The D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank said in its latest assessment that Russian forces are "unlikely to seize without several years of campaigning" all the territory in Donetsk Oblast alone.

"The Kremlin has been doubling down on the false narrative that Russian battlefield successes are so widespread that a Russian victory is inevitable," the ISW said. "ISW continues to assess that a Russian victory is not inevitable and that the 'realities on the ground' show that Russia faces many obstacles in its path to seizing the rest of Donetsk Oblast."

Ukraine's defense relies on the continuing support of Western partners through supplies of military aid, training, and intelligence sharing. The U.S. is vital to this, but the Trump administration could pull its support, as it has threatened before, if it sees no realistic path to peace, which would increase the likelihood of an eventual Russian victory if the war continues.

But it is important to keep in mind what Russian President Vladimir Putin set out to do originally in February 2022: Conquer the whole of Ukraine and topple the government in Kyiv within days. That original mission failed, and Russia has paid a heavy price to wage a years-long war that has seen hundreds of thousands of casualties, caused deep pain to its economy, and isolated it from most of the West.

Nov 24, 2025 at 04:16 AM EST

Map: What Russia controls in eastern Ukraine

This map by Newsweek's John Feng shows the areas of eastern Ukraine currently under the control of Russian forces, including swathes of the Donbas region, Kyiv's industrial heartlands.

Ukraine's forces still control the two fortress cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk in the Donbas. Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede these two cities—of major strategic significance to Ukraine's defense—along with the rest of Donbas to Moscow.

Nov 24, 2025 at 03:49 AM EST

Zelensky says Ukraine “coordinating very well” with European partners amid frustrations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the coordination taking place between Kyiv and its European partners, who have expressed frustration and surprise over the initial draft of Trump's peace plan, which they were not involved in developing and which crossed a number of red lines for them on European security in particular.

The Europeans released a 28-point counter-proposal to Trump's plan over the weekend.

Zelensky spoke with Finland's President Alexander Stubb this morning. Finland is a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO. Stubb welcomed the progress on peace talks, but warned of "major issues" that still needed to be resolved, and said that any elements involving the EU or NATO needed to be discussed by members of each "in a separate track."

"Thank you for your support," Zelensky said in a post on X, replying directly to Stubb.

"Right now, it is crucial that every joint action with our partners is [thoroughly] thought out. All decisions must be doable in order to ensure lasting peace and guaranteed security. We are coordinating very well and I appreciate the advice and perspectives we are sharing. Together, we will certainly safeguard our shared interests and our people."

Stubb had said originally: "I welcome the progress made at yesterday’s meetings between US and Ukraine in Geneva. The negotiations were a step forward, but there are still major issues which remain to be resolved. Any decision falling in the remit of EU or NATO will be discussed and decided by EU and NATO members in a separate track."

Nov 24, 2025 at 03:38 AM EST

US-Ukraine joint statement in full after Geneva talks on Trump plan

The U.S. and Ukraine issued a joint statement after their successful talks in Geneva on Trump's draft 28-point plan to address some of Kyiv's concerns. The statement, which made a point to emphasize Ukraine's gratitude to Trump after his pointed criticism of Zelensky on Sunday, said:

"On 23 November 2025, representatives of the United States and Ukraine met in Geneva for discussions on the U.S. peace proposal. The talks were constructive, focused, and respectful, underscoring the shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace.

"Both sides agreed the consultations were highly productive. The discussions showed meaningful progress toward aligning positions and identifying clear next steps. They reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver a sustainable and just peace.

"As a result of the discussions, the parties drafted an updated and refined peace framework.

"The Ukrainian delegation reaffirmed its gratitude for the steadfast commitment of the United States and, personally, President Donald J. Trump for their tireless efforts aimed at ending the war and the loss of life.

"Ukraine and the United States agreed to continue intensive work on joint proposals in the coming days. They will also remain in close contact with their European partners as the process advances.

"Final decisions under this framework will be made by the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States.

"Both sides reiterated their readiness to continue working together to secure a peace that ensures Ukraine’s security, stability, and reconstruction."

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