Talks in Geneva between the US and Ukraine aimed at ending the war with Russia have concluded, with officials from both sides reporting progress and an intention to continue working.
However, no details have emerged on how to bridge the considerable divide between Moscow and Kyiv over territorial issues and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the important steps that had been made but warned that the main problem facing the peace talks was Vladimir Putin's demand for legal recognition of Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.
This would break the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty, he said, highlighting concerns that Moscow could be rewarded for its aggression with land it seized by force.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump suggested on social media that something good just may be happening, but with the caveat: Don't believe it until you see it.
The Geneva talks did not involve Russian representatives, and the Kremlin said it hadn't received any information on the outcome of the discussions. Spokesman Dmitri Peskov noted Moscow was aware that adjustments were made to the plan that had been welcomed by Putin.
A 28-point peace plan drafted by US and Russian officials was presented to Ukraine last week. Several of its elements seemed heavily geared towards Moscow's longstanding demands, sparking consternation in Kyiv and its European allies.
Comments by Trump which suggested Ukraine had until Thursday to accept the deal or face serious cuts in US support contributed to creating a sense of urgency across Europe and talks between Ukraine and US officials were hastily convened.
By Sunday evening, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a tremendous amount of progress had been made at the talks. I honestly believe we'll get there, he said.
But some European leaders have been more cautious. I am not sure if we are closer to peace, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted that discussions would be a lengthy, long-lasting process that would not yield breakthroughs this week.
Europeans were left scrambling for a seat at the table last week, after they were seemingly caught unawares when the US draft peace plan was presented.
A counter-proposal reportedly drafted by Britain, France, and Germany excluded any recognition of Russian-held regions, raised Ukraine's allowed army size, and left the door open for Ukraine joining NATO.
Rubio stated he was not aware of this counter-proposal, and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov dismissed it as completely unconstructive.
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has insisted on a complete Ukrainian withdrawal from the entire eastern Donbas region.
Kyiv and its European partners remain wary of any settlement that could jeopardize the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Zelensky has reiterated that conceding the Donbas would render Ukraine vulnerable to future Russian attacks.
Despite the flurry of diplomatic activity last week, the next steps in the peace process remain uncertain. It is expected that Zelensky will soon personally speak with Trump, after which a new draft peace plan will eventually be presented to Moscow, but this week no meetings between Russian and US negotiators are planned, according to the Kremlin.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer remarked that there is still work to be done for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and mentioned a virtual coalition of the willing meeting set to take place on Tuesday to discuss recent developments.
