Donald Trump slammed Ukraine’s leaders for showing “zero gratitude” over his efforts to end the war with Russia.
The US President did not mention the discussions between European allies in a post on Truth Social on Sunday.
“Ukraine ‘leadership’ has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia,” he wrote.
“I inherited a war that should have never happened, a war that is a loser for everyone, especially the millions of people that have so needlessly died.”
US, Ukrainian and European counterparts are meeting in Geneva on Sunday, with special envoy Steve Witkoff, army secretary Dan Driscoll and US secretary of state Marco Rubio expected to represent Washington.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said his team had reported back from initial meetings and conversations.
“There is now an understanding that the American proposals may take into account a number of elements based on the Ukrainian vision and are critically important for Ukraine’s national interests,” he said in a post on X.
Sir Keir Starmer and other leaders have pushed back against the US-drafted plan for Ukraine, raising concerns about proposals to make Kyiv limit its armed forces and give up territory and its path to Nato membership.
They called Washington’s plan drawn up secretly with Moscow “a basis” that requires further work in a joint statement on Saturday after talks at the G20 in South Africa.
But Ukraine’s top security official, Rustem Umerov, said: “We appreciate our American partners working closely with us to understand our concerns to reach this critical point and we expect to make more progress today.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander echoed this, telling Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “We have been clear that there are elements of the peace plan that he has proposed that are essential for a just and lasting peace.
“It does require some additional work.”
Alexander said allies of Ukraine need to “find a way to secure that ceasefire and open up space for meaningful negotiations”.
The 28-point plan is said to have been negotiated by Witkoff and Kremlin representative Kirill Dmitriev, with Kyiv and European allies left out of the process.
Alexander insisted the UK’s voice “does count” with Washington, adding: “Our relationship with the US is one of seeking to influence to facilitate that dialogue with other global leaders.”
The inclusion of an article five security guarantee – Nato’s mutual defence provision under which an attack on one member is an attack on the entire bloc – is seen as “integral and significant” to Washington’s plan, it is understood.
Sir Keir Starmer has said this security guarantee and his one-on-one discussions with Trump on Ukraine make it clear to him that the US leader wants a “just and lasting peace”.
The Sunday talks will see national security advisers “go through quite a bit of detail”, the Prime Minister has said.
He and Trump agreed their teams would work together on the president’s peace proposal during a phone call on Saturday, according to Downing Street.
They agreed to talk again on Sunday.
The conversation came after Sir Keir spoke to Zelensky and reiterated the UK’s “steadfast support” for Kyiv.
Trump, who shunned the G20 summit, initially suggested he wanted a Ukrainian response by Thursday.
But he has since signalled there is some room for negotiation in Geneva, saying “no” when asked whether his proposals are final.
The US State Department has rejected claims from senators who said Mr Rubio told them the plan was a “wish list” from Russia.
“This is blatantly false. As Secretary Rubio and the entire Administration has consistently maintained, this plan was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians,” a spokesman posted on X.
