New details of the deal emerge: Nine points removed from the peace plan

However, the details of how they plan to overcome the deep differences between Moscow and Kyiv remain secret, while European allies remain cautious, Financial Times reports.

The first wave of optimism came from U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Is it really possible that huge progress is being made in the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine??? Don’t believe it until you see it, but maybe something good is happening,” he posted Monday morning on the social network Truth Social.

His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was even more direct, saying after Sunday’s talks that “huge” progress had been made and that he was “very optimistic” about reaching an agreement soon. He added that the final text must be approved by Zelensky and Trump before it is sent to Moscow.

A shortened plan and strong reactions

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the peace plan has been shortened from 28 to 19 points. Although it has not been revealed what exactly was removed, it is known that European leaders previously expressed concern about the sections relating to sanctions and frozen Russian assets, viewing those as the exclusive competence of the EU. U.S. pressure to end the conflict quickly has already shaken the markets—European defense stocks fell more than 2 percent on Monday.

In a joint statement, the U.S. and Ukraine described the talks as “constructive,” but concerns behind the scenes are growing. Finnish President Alexander Stubb called the negotiations “a step forward,” but warned that “the central issues remain unresolved.”

Clear messages from Brussels and Moscow

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that three elements are key:

“First, borders cannot be changed by force. Second, as a sovereign nation, there can be no restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces. And third, the central role of the European Union in securing peace for Ukraine must be fully reflected.”

The original proposal, however, crossed several key Ukrainian “red lines,” including the surrender of the remaining part of the Donetsk region. Meanwhile, the Kremlin claims it has not received any official summary of the talks. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that no meetings between U.S. and Russian representatives are planned this week.

Divisions in Washington and a European counterproposal

The entire diplomatic process has been marked by contradictory messages from Washington. After pressuring Ukraine to accept a deal, Trump stated that the plan was not America’s “final offer,” while Rubio reportedly tried to distance himself from certain proposals—only to endorse them again just hours later.

The plan has also sparked deep divisions among Republicans. While influential senators such as Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham have criticized it, others, like Eric Schmitt, defend Trump’s “realistic” approach. Senator Thom Tillis stated:

“Vladimir Putin is a killer, a rapist, and an assassin, and we should not do anything that would make him feel like he has won here. Any agreement must be an agreement the people of Ukraine want.”

Meanwhile, European diplomats—worried that Trump could withdraw U.S. support—are preparing their own version of a deal.

“We are trying to come up with something that could work as a counterproposal,” one European official said. At the meetings in Geneva, alongside the American and Ukrainian teams led by Andriy Yermak, national security advisers from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the EU also participated.