GENEVA — Top US and Ukrainian officials said Sunday they had made progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war, offering cautious optimism after high-stakes talks in Geneva over the American peace proposal that has stirred deep concern among Ukraine’s European allies.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the sessions as “very worthwhile,” saying they represented the most productive day in negotiations “in a very long time.”

He offered few details, however, and downplayed the Thursday deadline set by President Donald Trump for Kyiv to respond to the plan, noting that discussions could continue into Monday and beyond.

“This is a very delicate moment,” Rubio said. “Some of it is semantics, or language. Others require higher-level decisions and consultations. Others just need more time to work through.”

The 28-point U.S. blueprint has drawn criticism in Kyiv and across Europe for granting concessions long demanded by Moscow, including territorial withdrawals and limits on Ukraine’s armed forces.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned Ukraine may face a painful choice between defending its sovereign rights and maintaining critical American support.

Alarm deepened after U.S. senators said Rubio privately described the plan as originating with Russia — a claim he later rejected, calling the document a “living, breathing” proposal that would continue to evolve.

He stressed that any final framework would still need to be presented to Moscow, saying “the Russians get a vote here.”

Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian delegation, also expressed guarded optimism. “We have made very good progress and are moving forward to a just and lasting peace,” he said.

But the upbeat tone contrasted sharply with Trump, who hours before the talks blasted Kyiv for showing “zero gratitude” for U.S. aid.

Zelenskyy later praised American efforts, while emphasizing that Russia alone bears responsibility for starting the war.

Before Sunday’s meeting, Ukrainian officials also held talks with national security advisers from the U.K., France and Germany as Western partners pushed for revisions to the U.S. plan.

French officials said restrictions on Ukraine’s military would amount to “a limitation on its sovereignty.”

European leaders have similarly insisted that Ukraine must retain the ability to defend itself and must not be pressured into territorial concessions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he told Trump that “the sovereignty of this country must not be jeopardized.”

Confusion over how the plan emerged continued to ripple through diplomatic circles. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it remained unclear “who is the author of the plan and where it was created,” while U.S. lawmakers voiced unease over proposals they say align too closely with Russian demands.

Negotiators in Geneva are expected to continue discussions this week as the U.S., Ukraine and European partners try to reconcile their positions ahead of presenting any framework to Moscow. Trump has said his deadline may slide if he sees “real progress.” — Agencies