European officials expressed cautious optimism following discussions on U.S. peace proposals for Ukraine, which had previously raised concerns for favoring Russia. The outcome of the weekend talks, held in Switzerland, was seen as a positive development, although details were not disclosed. Finnish President Alexander Stubb noted on social media that while the negotiations represented a step forward, significant issues remain unresolved.

U.S. President Donald Trump also commented on the talks, suggesting that progress might be occurring. He posted on Truth Social, "Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening."

The discussions in Geneva focused on a 28-point peace plan introduced by the U.S. last week. This plan had alarmed officials in Kyiv and European capitals due to its perceived alignment with Moscow's demands following the invasion nearly four years ago. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the interim results, stating that the U.S. proposal had been significantly modified. However, he cautioned that peace would not be achieved quickly, saying, "It was possible to clear up some questions, but we also know that there won’t be peace in Ukraine overnight."

The initial proposal had called for Ukraine to cede some territory to Russia and reduce its military size, which raised concerns about Ukraine's security. Additionally, the plan sought European agreement that Ukraine would not join NATO, despite the alliance's previous statements indicating Ukraine's irreversible path to membership.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Ukraine's allies, referred to as the "coalition of the willing," would hold video talks on the negotiations. This development comes at a challenging time for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the war approaches its fourth anniversary. Ukraine faces significant pressure on the front lines, financial difficulties, and a corruption scandal affecting his government.

Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian delegation was returning from Geneva to report on the discussions, after which the government would determine its next steps. He expressed hope, saying, "Diplomacy has been reinvigorated, and that’s good. Very good."

Meanwhile, Russian officials have not yet reviewed the revised peace plan, according to a Kremlin spokesperson. Dmitry Peskov mentioned that there are no current plans for U.S. and Russian delegations to meet this week, but Russia remains open to such contacts.

Merz emphasized the need for Russia to engage in the peace process, stating, "The next step must be that Russia must come to the table." He added that progress would likely be slow, predicting no breakthroughs in the immediate future.

The chief diplomats from Germany, Finland, France, the U.K., Italy, and Poland consulted with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on further steps to end the conflict. German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio played a crucial role in ensuring the plan could be accepted by both European and Ukrainian sides. He stated, "I would like to say that all issues concerning Europe or NATO have been removed from this plan, which is a decisive success that we achieved yesterday."

Rubio described the talks as "very worthwhile" and expressed optimism about achieving results. Turkey is also seeking to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin speaking by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, the war's harsh realities continue to impact Ukraine. Russian drone strikes in Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city, resulted in four fatalities and injuries to 13 others, including two children. The attacks damaged residential buildings and infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing violence.

Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 162 strike and decoy drones overnight. Additionally, Russia resumed drone attacks on civilian and port infrastructure near Romania's border, prompting Romania to scramble military jets in response.

The situation remains fluid as diplomatic efforts continue alongside the ongoing conflict.