Andriy Yermak, a Ukrainian official, says the mood is constructive. And a US official tells the BBC there’s optimism - and momentum, as he put it. But what’s on the table is a 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine that reflects Russia’s key demands. Everything from Ukraine abandoning hard-defended land, to a ban on joining NATO. And US President Donald Trump has given Kyiv until Thursday to sign up.
Met with dismay in Ukraine, the deal’s controversial even in the US - where Secretary of State Marco Rubio had to confirm that this is in fact a US proposal, and not one written by the Kremlin.
Rubio is here today, as are officials from the European Union and UK anxious to ensure that if this is a starting point for a lasting peace deal - a big if - then Ukraine’s voice, and those of all its allies, must be heard.
Marco Rubio is playing a very strange role here, isn’t he? In fact, his roles keep changing, it seems. One of his roles is as warmonger, stoking the fires and tensions of the US with Venezuela, yet here in Europe, he is trying to play the peacemaker, trying to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine! If Volodymyr Zelenskyy is wise, he will reject this Kremlin-pleasing and Kremlin-inspired offer. Ukraine needs a better peace deal than this pathetic excuse for one. — © Mark Alexander
My thoughts on this so-called peace proposal are here.