The Search for Peace in Ukraine: A High-Stakes Diplomatic Endeavor

Thu Nov 27 2025 12:11:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As diplomatic efforts revive amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, leaders express cautious optimism about potential resolutions. Key players share their perspectives on the complex negotiations and the challenges ahead.

Recent diplomatic activities have stirred hope for peace in Ukraine, with President Trump and President Zelensky presenting a more positive outlook. However, challenges persist, especially regarding territorial disputes and security guarantees from Russia. While the discussions in Geneva have yielded a new 19-point proposal, the actual path to peace remains fraught with complexities.

Are we any closer to peace in Ukraine?

After a frantic, often confusing few days of diplomacy, Donald Trump seems to think so.

We're getting very close to a deal, he told reporters on Tuesday.

For his part, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who had looked and sounded grim over the weekend, said there were now many prospects that can make the path to peace real.

But from the Russians, apart from some discontented mutterings about European involvement and unauthorized leaks, the response has been somewhat muted.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Wednesday that Moscow viewed some elements of the latest draft positively but many require special discussions among experts.

Given the gulf that exists between Ukraine and Russia on so many key issues – including territory, NATO membership, and accountability for war crimes – it is hard to see all the necessary pieces falling into place anytime soon.

Last Wednesday already seems like aeons ago. That is when a leaked draft of a 28-point US plan to end the war first emerged. The plan, which led some to describe it as a Russian wish list, caused consternation in Kyiv and sent European diplomats scrambling to limit the perceived damage.

Yet by the weekend, the Europeans had drafted a counter-proposal, replacing blunt territorial concessions with negotiations on territorial swaps and reinforcing the language on security guarantees.

A joint US-Ukrainian statement called discussions highly productive while emphasizing the importance of achieving a sustainable and just peace.

Despite ongoing uncertainties and the still-evolving diplomatic landscape, both Kyiv and Washington exhibit renewed determination for progress. However, the essential questions around security guarantees and territory remain pressing concerns moving forward.

As NATO's commitments to its members and the complexities of the conflict loom large, experts caution against over-optimism, noting that significant challenges lie ahead.

This high-stakes diplomatic endeavor continues as the leaders convey a willingness to navigate the tumultuous waters toward eventual peace.