(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump cautiously touted progress in U.S.-led peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on Monday.
“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,” he wrote on social media.
The war’s death toll continued to rise as four Ukrainians were killed overnight in a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv.
Trump has set a Thursday — Thanksgiving Day — deadline for reaching a peace deal.
Both the U.S. and Ukraine say more work is needed before the 28-point plan can cross the finish line, but officials are hopeful of progress by that deadline.
“The important point today is that we have made substantial progress. We’ve really moved forward. So, I feel very optimistic that we’re going to get there in a very reasonable period of time, very soon,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after meetings in Geneva over the weekend.
What’s in the Ukraine-Russia peace plan?
Questioned about the plan’s origins, a senior U.S. official told NewsNation it was authored by the United States with input from both sides, and specified it is not a Russian-authored document.
The plan includes Ukraine giving up territory, limiting the size of its army and agreeing not to join NATO — in exchange for security guarantees and money toward reconstruction efforts.
Russia largely avoids significant concessions under the plan, and it would provide blanket post-war amnesty for its participants.
The White House, in a statement, said Ukrainian representatives “believe the current draft reflects their national interests and provides credible and enforceable mechanisms to safeguard Ukraine’s security in both the near and long term.”
Trump’s team has not ruled out meeting directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.
A source told NewsNation all options remained on the table.
US lawmakers concerned with proposed Ukraine-Russia peace plan
Elected officials on both sides of the aisle have voiced concerns about the plan and its concessions. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., called it a “historically bad deal.“
“It’s awful. It would make Neville Chamberlain’s giving in to Hitler, the outset of World War II, look strong in comparison,” he told ABC News.
Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., have also raised issues with the proposal, which they say rewards Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the world’s most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin,” Wicker said in a statement Friday. “The size and disposition of Ukraine’s armed forces is a sovereign choice for its government and people.”
“Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool. If Administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the President ought to find new advisors,” McConnell said in a statement Friday.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., has submitted a petition to force a vote in the House on the measure. It includes imposing a 500% tariff on any country buying Russian oil or uranium and penalties against Russia if leaders refuse to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine or conduct another invasion there, according to NewsNation partner The Hill.
The House will be back in session next week, where the sanctions package could pass with the support of both Republicans and Democrats.
NewsNation’s Anna Kutz contributed to this report.