The United States and Ukraine signaled a breakthrough on Sunday after a new round of negotiations on Washington’s proposed peace framework for ending the war with Russia, with officials from both delegations describing the talks as the most constructive to date.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the US mission in Geneva, said the opening session set a new benchmark for the process. It was, he noted, "probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far in this entire process," adding that negotiators were now working through issues "point by point" with input from all sides.

Rubio explained that the teams had temporarily separated to refine technical proposals aimed at reducing the remaining disagreements. "We're working through making some changes, some adjustments, in the hopes of further narrowing the differences and getting closer to something that both Ukraine and obviously the United States are very comfortable with," he said.

He added that any final document would require presidential approval, but stressed, "I feel very comfortable about that happening." The US, he said, now has "substantial insights" into Moscow’s priorities.

Steady progress

Ukraine’s delegation conveyed a similar sense of momentum. Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said the first session had been highly constructive. "I want to confirm that we have (a) very productive first session with distinguished American delegation," he said. "We have very good progress, and we are moving forward to the just and lasting peace Ukrainian people deserve and want this peace more than anyone in this planet."

He thanked Washington for its involvement and said the work would continue with European counterparts over the coming days.

Rubio later briefed reporters again, portraying the day’s discussions as a major step forward. He said negotiators had made "tremendous progress" and that the outstanding problems were manageable. "The items that remain open are not insurmountable," he said, adding only that the teams "just need more time than what we have today."

'Living, breathing' document

The rapid movement, he said, reflected nearly a week of intensified engagement, and he described the draft agreement as a "living, breathing" document that may change further.

He declined to detail which points still needed work, but said he was encouraged by the pace. "I feel very optimistic that we can get something done here, because we made a tremendous amount of progress," he said. President Donald Trump, he added, was "quite pleased at the reports" coming from Geneva.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a Telegram post, said the meeting involved "substantive conversations," noting that negotiators were "working very carefully on the steps needed to end the war." He said his team had conveyed Kiev’s security priorities clearly and that there were "signals President Trump's team is hearing us."

Pressure Mounts

The diplomatic push comes as Trump’s 28-point proposal faces skepticism at home and abroad. The leaked outline suggests Ukraine may be asked to concede additional territory, reduce its military capacity, and formally drop its NATO ambitions. Trump has insisted the proposal is not his "final offer" and has given Zelensky until Thursday to respond.

Zelensky acknowledged that the negotiations place him in a difficult position, describing the choice as a struggle between "the loss of our dignity or the risk of losing a key partner."

Over the weekend, leaders from nine European states, as well as Japan, Canada, and senior EU officials, publicly questioned the plan’s potential restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces. They warned the proposed limitations "would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack," reflecting growing concern within allied capitals as Geneva talks intensify.

Read more: FT: US position on Ukraine peace deal still unsettled