U.S. takes Ukraine's concerns more seriously after Rubio steps into Geneva talks

Politico reported the information.

The diplomatic chaos began when Army Secretary Dan Driscoll delivered an ultimatum to Ukraine and European allies last week, demanding acceptance of a controversial 28-point peace proposal by Thanksgiving "or else." However, when Rubio arrived in Geneva on Sunday to join the discussions, the administration's approach shifted dramatically.

"We believe that Marco Rubio's engagement in the continuation of talks is important," said a NATO country official, who noted that Rubio's involvement has "slowed down" the pace of negotiations in a positive way. "After yesterday, it has slowed down, and that's good."

The turbulent week has highlighted two key aspects of the Trump administration's foreign policy approach. First, international partners view Rubio as a stabilizing force who can realign Washington with its allies rather than Moscow's positions. Second, Trump's preference for abandoning traditional policy coordination has created a chaotic environment where senior officials operate independently.

Before Rubio's intervention, Vice President JD Vance appeared to be driving the process through his close ally Driscoll. But by Sunday's end, Rubio had taken control as discussions became more flexible, according to European officials familiar with the talks.

"He certainly had more control over the process Sunday than he had since Wednesday," said a European official involved in the negotiations.

Rubio's participation brought immediate changes to the American position. The administration backed away from the firm Thanksgiving deadline, and Rubio described the peace proposal as a "living, breathing document" rather than a fixed ultimatum. The U.S. and Ukraine have now developed a revised 19-point plan that excludes territorial concessions, which will be discussed by both presidents.

"Rubio simply understands better than many others in the current administration that there is simply no way the Ukrainian government can sign the capitulation," the European official explained.

However, questions remain about the coordination within Trump's team. Even as Rubio took the lead, other officials including deputy national security adviser Andy Baker, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner continued advocating positions that European and Ukrainian officials viewed as inconsistent with Rubio's approach.

"No one knows whether they are now all lockstep with Rubio," the official said.

Confusion also persists over the origins of the original 28-point proposal. While American officials initially claimed it was a U.S. plan with Russian input, Senator Mike Rounds said Rubio told lawmakers the plan originally came from Russia. The State Department disputed this account, but some lawmakers continue questioning the role of Russian officials in the process.

"Things went in the right direction in Geneva. Still a work in progress, but looking much better now," said another European official. "Rubio is a pro who knows his stuff. But he works for the president who decides in the end."

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the administration's approach, stating that Trump's representatives are "working cohesively towards a shared goal — to end a war that has taken the lives of millions of people and prevent further loss of life through a durable and enforceable peace."

The diplomatic episode reflects Trump's preference for an informal foreign policy apparatus where multiple officials pursue different approaches simultaneously. As one former congressional adviser noted, "the president wants to see who can get the best result" by having "all of his all-stars" approach problems from different perspectives.

• U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised a top Putin aide on how to approach Donald Trump with a Ukraine peace plan, suggesting they collaborate on a proposal modeled after the Gaza ceasefire deal.
• U.S. President Donald Trump commented on media reports about past conversations between his special representative, Steve Witkoff, and Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov. He called them 'standard negotiation.'