Kremlin rejects peace proposal from Europe because it rains loss of life on Zelensky’s war-torn nation – as US and Ukraine push for 19-point plan
The Kremlin has rejected European counter proposals to try to end the conflict in Ukraine.
And as negotiations concluded in Geneva, Russia continued its aerial bombardment of Ukraine, killing four people in an air strike in Kharkiv.
Britain, Germany and France had proposed key changes to the contentious 28-point peace plan which was put together by White House and Kremlin officials last week.
These included ruling out Russia rejoining the G8 and raising the cap on Ukraine’s army from 600,000 to 800,000.
In a bid to break the deadlock, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky had been expected to fly to Washington DC this week for talks with Donald Trump. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday night that no meeting had been scheduled.
US and Ukrainian officials have also agreed a new 19-point peace plan, described as a ‘refined peace framework’.
On Monday night, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister Sergiy Kyslytsya said ‘very few things are left’ from the original 28-point peace plan.
But it seems unlikely the new plan will be accepted by the Kremlin, which described these developments as ‘completely unconstructive’ and not working for Russia.
And as negotiations concluded in Geneva, Russia continued its aerial bombardment of Ukraine, killing four people in an air strike in Kharkiv
A father hugs his son as he reacts after his mother was killed during a Russia drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine November 23, 2025
A firefighter works at the site of a Russia drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine November 23, 2025
On Monday President Trump had optimistically posted on social media that ‘something good’ was coming from the discussions in Geneva, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
And hopes of a breakthrough had been raised on Sunday, particularly after reports suggested European allies of Ukraine had agreed to let Russia return to the international fold following a ceasefire, including rejoining the G8 – the country’s membership was suspended following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
But that plan was dead in the water on Monday as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was the only member that wanted Russia to rejoin.
Mr Trump remains committed to proposals included in the original plan that are red lines for the Ukrainians – such as sacrificing territory and pledging not to join NATO. But Ukrainian officials said that plan represented an unacceptable capitulation to Russia.
President Zelensky has met President Trump at the White House three times so far this year and on two of those occasions he has been shouted at by his host for refusing to accede to US demands.
He is also considered to be in his most vulnerable position since the conflict began due to a corruption scandal with ministers fleecing Ukrainian taxpayers of millions of pounds.
But in an apparent bid to appease President Trump, President Zelensky told allies in a video call: ‘We all continue working with partners, especially the United States, to look for compromises that will strengthen not weaken us.’
President Zelensky has met President Trump at the White House three times so far this year and on two of those occasions he has been shouted at by his host for refusing to accede to US demands
On Monday President Trump had optimistically posted on social media that ‘something good’ was coming from the discussions in Geneva, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Mr Zelensky insisted Russia must pay for the war and urged European states to agree a strategy to use frozen Kremlin assets held by third-party states.
Russia is making gradual gains on the battlefield and destroying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure just as the country faces extreme weather conditions.
And on Sunday night a Russian air strike on Ukraine’s second largest city killed four people. Russian drones struck buildings in the centre of Kharkiv.
A Ukrainian counter-attack knocked out the power supplies in Moscow for tens of thousands of people.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to President Trump twice in recent days but failed to achieve a breakthrough. He is also expected to hold further talks with the Coalition of the Willing – the European nations expected to help police any future ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
The PM’s spokesman said: ‘As the US-Ukraine joint statement makes clear, yesterday’s talks were a major step towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.’
