Finnish president hails progress in US-Ukraine talks, but says core issues persist

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said that, despite progress in recent US-Ukraine talks in Geneva, key issues in settling the conflict in Ukraine remain unresolved.

“I spoke with Volodymyr Zelenskyy this morning. I welcome the progress made at yesterday’s meetings between US and Ukraine in Geneva. The negotiations were a step forward, but there are still major issues which remain to be resolved,” Stubb wrote on X, as cited by Caliber.Az.

The president added: “Any decision falling in the remit of EU or NATO will be discussed and decided by EU and NATO members in a separate track.”

The Geneva meetings, held on November 23, 2025, at the U.S. Permanent Mission, involved U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll with a Ukrainian delegation led by Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskyy's office. The closed-door discussions focused on advancing elements of the U.S. "28-point peace plan" proposed by the Trump administration, which seeks a ceasefire and settlement amid stalled broader talks.

Rubio described the talks as "productive and meaningful," noting progress on humanitarian issues like prisoner exchanges and aid corridors. Yermak confirmed ongoing discussions but stressed Ukraine's red lines, including no territorial concessions. Zelenskyy, in a Telegram post on November 23, expressed hope for "results" but lamented recent Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, urging faster Western air defence deliveries. No breakthroughs on core issues—such as security guarantees or NATO membership—were announced, aligning with Stubb's view of unresolved "major issues."

The plan, approved by Trump on November 18, 2025, proposes freezing frontlines, limiting Ukraine's military size to ~85,000 troops, and permanent neutrality in exchange for U.S.-led guarantees and reconstruction aid. It excludes direct Russian participation in Geneva but plans parallel U.S.-Russia talks "quickly." European allies, including Finland, have criticised its perceived favoritism toward Moscow, with Stubb previously calling it a "victory for Putin" in September 2025

By Khagan Isayev