Ukraine, Western allies meet in Geneva to weigh US Peace Proposal – Firstpost

Top diplomats and national security advisers from Ukraine and its Western allies gathered in Geneva on Sunday to assess a new peace proposal put forward by the United States.

The meeting serves as the latest round in Ukraine’s diplomatic campaign to build a powerful global consensus on its terms for peace, which insists on the full withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

Ukrainian officials stressed that the meeting was not about negotiations with Moscow, but about uniting the international community behind a shared vision for peace based in the UN Charter.

A key priority for Kyiv is to garner greater support from countries in the Global South—countries such as Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia—which have so far been neutral or cautious. Conquering these states is considered essential to strengthen Ukraine’s position and increase diplomatic pressure on Russia.

Ukraine and its Western allies want many countries around the world to support the plan. They believe this global support will prove that the conflict is not just a local fight, but a clear threat to the basic rules of international law.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was awaiting the outcome of the gathering, calling a positive outcome “necessary for all of us.” He said on Telegram that Ukrainian, American and European teams remain in constant coordination, stressing that “the bloodshed must be stopped” and guarantees must be given to prevent war from re-flaring up.

Much of the summit focused on breaking down the key components of the 10-point plan, including sessions devoted to nuclear security, energy security and accountability for war crimes – issues central to any future solution.

Yet the main obstacle remains: Moscow rejects any peace plan that does not take into account what it describes as “new regional realities,” referring to the four illegally annexed territories, in 2022. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed the Geneva talks as “a propaganda exercise”, insisting that no meaningful progress is possible without its participation and acceptance of its demands.

Despite this, Ukrainian officials hailed the summit as an important milestone. By strengthening a unified international stance, they believe they are laying the foundation for a future peace process – which cannot be shaped on the Kremlin’s terms.