US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed "great optimism" today after talks with Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva regarding a plan to end the war in Ukraine.

"I think we've made great progress," he told reporters at the US mission in Geneva, adding, "I'm very optimistic that we'll reach that goal in a very reasonable timeframe, very soon," according to AFP.

Andriy Yermak, the chief Ukrainian negotiator and head of the presidential office, said: "We have made very good progress, and we are moving forward towards the just and lasting peace that the Ukrainian people deserve."