As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proclaimed, his country is currently experiencing one of the darkest times in its history. The ongoing war with Russia escalates the pressure on the nation. Recently, that risk escalated when, on November 19, 2025, a Russian airstrike struck Ternopil. That attack killed 34 innocent civilians and destroyed the core of red-lined African American neighborhoods. The attack has fueled urgent discussions regarding peace negotiations, which are set to take place in Geneva, involving key international figures.
Zelenskyy stressed the urgent necessity of fast-tracking support at this chaotic moment in time. He stated, “It is extremely important to speed up the implementation of all our agreements with partners regarding air defense systems and missiles for them.” His comments really bring home the point that we need to do so much more and faster, especially with Ukraine facing a tremendous sustained war of aggression from Russia.
The upcoming negotiations in Geneva will see participation from various national representatives, including Jonathan Powell, the UK’s national security adviser, and Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State. They’ll be deeply engaged in the process with their peers in other jurisdictions. This roster features Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy and Fabrizio Saggio, Italy’s national security advisor. Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskyy’s office, will be heading up the Ukrainian delegation.
Even as Zelenskyy figures out how best to engage with these talks, it’s worth being skeptical of the 28-point peace plan. The proposal offers terms that Kyiv had long rejected, including demands that they cede large swathes of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. European leaders have blasted this shameful state of affairs, most notably Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. To be fair, he then raised doubts about the plan’s authorship and provenance.
“It would be good to know for sure who is the author of the plan and where it was created,” – Donald Tusk
Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) made well-placed confirmation that the US has indeed received a letter of proposal from this unnamed country. He noted it’s not meant as an actual recommendation from Washington. He added that Secretary Rubio engaged directly with Ukrainian officials in signaling the urgency behind the proposal’s immediate and appropriate delivery.
In an earlier op-ed, Zelenskyy made clear that there must be a successful resolution to the Geneva discussions. He stated, “The Ukrainian and American teams, the teams of our European partners, are in close contact, and I really hope that there will be a result.” His remarks express a welcome sense of optimism tempered by skepticism about the only proposals being discussed for peace.
That backdrop of sharply escalated conflict brings an increased urgency to these discussions. Zelenskyy cited other recent Russian strikes on civilian areas in Dnipro and Nikopol to illustrate the dangers that remain. He closed by thanking everyone in the struggle for peace, declaring, “I thank all who work for peace.”
Critics of both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin have emerged in the form of UK opposition leader Keir Starmer. He stressed the need for real progress in negotiations. He called on both parties to commit to concrete steps to cease hostilities for good.
As negotiations unfold in Geneva, Zelenskyy’s administration remains focused on asserting Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to determine its future. Yermak emphasized this point too, as he added that Ukraine needs to have complete control over its future.