Ahead of the Geneva meeting, world leaders are trying to agree positions on the 28-point US “peace plan”. Canada, the UK and the EU are coordinating their steps, seeking to maintain a balance between support for Ukraine and diplomatic pressure from Washington. Canada is preparing talks with Ukraine to agree on a common position, while the UK and the US have agreed to work together on the details of the document. Against this background, analysts note the tough rhetoric of the Russian Federation, but the West is assessing the opportunities to strengthen its own negotiating position.
Global progress is possible without US participation, - Mark Carney
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned, that a number of key global issues can progress even without official US participation. He emphasized that the consensus reached by the G20 countries at the Johannesburg summit remains significant, despite the boycott by the Donald Trump administration. Carney stressed that the world community is capable of forming important decisions independently, since the countries present at the meeting represented the majority of the world's population, GDP and trade.
During a press conference, Carney said that he was actively working to deepen cooperation with the states of South Africa, India and China, which reflects the changing balance of influence in the world economy. He emphasized that the "center of gravity" of global development is gradually shifting, and the Johannesburg summit demonstrates the possibility of formats of international interaction independent of the United States.
ISW: Ukraine and the West can use the weaknesses of the Russian Federation
The report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes, that Russian officials and propagandists continue to form an information base for rejecting the US peace plan. In public statements of the Russian Federation, narratives about the alleged impossibility of compromises and claims to a complete victory in Ukraine are intensifying. Some deputies of the Duma openly declare that the Russian Federation does not plan to return the captured territories, including those that it controls only partially, such as the Zaporizhia region.
ISW analysts emphasize that the rhetoric of Russian officials and loyal media indicates Moscow’s lack of readiness for negotiations until it achieves its combat goals. At the same time, the institute notes that “the victory of the Russian Federation is not inevitable,” and Ukraine and its partners can take advantage of the vulnerabilities of the Russian political and military system to force the Kremlin to make real concessions.
Carney to hold talks with Zelensky on the US initiative
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said, that he plans to hold a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday to coordinate positions before discussing the US “peace plan” in Geneva. This is a 28-point document that Western leaders are considering as a basis for further diplomatic steps. Carney noted that the agreed position has already been conveyed to Washington and does not require additional contacts with Donald Trump.
According to Carney, further work is entrusted to national security advisers, who should determine common approaches to individual provisions of the plan. The Prime Minister added that he positively assesses the first point of the document - the recognition of Ukraine as a sovereign state. In Geneva, he said, the advisers will discuss a wide range of issues, and the collected comments will be passed on to the US administration.
“Peace plan” remains a working document, - Kellogg
US President Donald Trump’s special representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said, that the 28-point “peace plan” is not final and remains a framework document on which work is ongoing.
In an interview with Fox News, he compared political negotiations to the completion of a military operation, noting that “the last 10 meters to the finish line are always the hardest.” He said the process is now “about two meters away,” and the team expects to have the plan in place by Thanksgiving.
Kellogg stressed that the drafting group has already done a lot of the hard work, but the document needs refinements that are being made during the negotiations. He frankly stated that there are some provisions that need to be “changed a little.”
Assessing the prospects for signing the plan, the White House spokesman expressed cautious optimism, saying: “I think we can push the Ukrainians to do it… And I think later we can push the Russians to do it as well.”
Starmer and Trump agree to work together on a “peace plan” for Ukraine
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, during which the parties agreed on joint work between the British and American teams on Washington’s proposed “peace plan” for Ukraine.
According to DW , citing a British government representative, consultations are to take place in Geneva on Sunday. The conversation between Starmer and Trump was “good and constructive”, which allowed the parties to agree on further coordination of efforts.
According to the British government, this conversation took place after Starmer’s contact with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. During the conversation with Zelensky, the Prime Minister confirmed “unwavering support” for Ukraine from London. Zelensky emphasized in his message that the parties discussed many details of diplomatic work within the framework of planning the peace process:
“The conversation was long, we discussed many nuances of diplomatic work in planning the peace process. We will continue to coordinate, and I am grateful to the entire British society for their support.”
It is expected that on November 23, consultations will be held in Geneva between representatives of Ukraine, the United States and the E3 format – Great Britain, France and Germany – on further steps under the plan proposed by the American side.
Photo: wikimedia.org
Author: Danylo Pievchev