GEOFF BENNETT: Today, U.S.

and Ukrainian# officials worked to bridge gaps in a U.S.## document designed to end the near-four-year war.# Both sides say the U.S.

has agreed to edit what## was a 28-point proposal that sparked# bipartisan and international concern,## concern that the U.S.

was imposing demands sought# by Russia and impossible for Ukraine to accept.

Nick Schifrin has been reporting every development## through the weekend and is# back with us this evening.

So, Nick, how much progress has# been made today on this proposal?

NICK SCHIFRIN: European officials tell me, Geoff,## that the proposal is now down to# 19 points, instead of 28 points,## and there has been progress between the U.S.# and Ukraine, as you said, in narrowing the gaps.

The U.S.

says there are two major sticking points.# Remember, the original document required Ukraine## to cap the size of its military, give up its# NATO ambitions, and surrender territory in## the Donetsk that it still holds, despite# 10 years of Russia trying to capture it.

But in meetings today, as well as yesterday in# Geneva led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and## the Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy# Yermak, the U.S.

heard out the Ukrainian side.## And, today, Karoline Leavitt, the White House# spokesperson, said the U.S.

was optimistic.

KAROLINE LEAVITT, White House Press Secretary:# The vast majority of these points have been agreed## upon.

The Ukrainians have worked on language# with us together, and you heard that from their## delegation directly yesterday.

So we feel as# though we're in a very good place.

Of course,## we have to make sure that all of these# points are agreed too, and then, of course,## we're going to have to make sure the other party# in this war, the Russians, agree to them as well.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Levitt specifically said there were## two major points of disagreements.# We don't know what they are, Geoff.

But European officials tell me that the single# most difficult perhaps point of disagreement,## that is Ukraine giving up that territory,## it's been decided that only Trump and Zelenskyy# personally will have to decide that issue.

Here's Zelenskyy tonight.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, Ukrainian# President (through translator):## There are fewer points, no longer 28, and# many of .. into account in this framework.

There is still# work for all of us to do together.

It is very## challenging to finalize the document,# and we must do everything with dignity.

We appreciate that most of# the world is ready to help us,## and that the American side is# approaching this constructively.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Constructively also means,## Geoff, that the Thanksgiving deadline that# President Trump se.. Karoline Leavitt said today that the deadline# was just -- quote -- "as soon as possible."

And we also know that some of the other larger# issues that have to do with NATO and Ukraine,## language about whether Ukraine can ever join# NATO, language about how Europe will treat## frozen assets, those will be treated separately in# negotiations within the U.S.

and Western Europe.

GEOFF BENNETT: Well, Nick, it sounds like we're# in a very different place than late last week,## or even this past weekend, when you attended# the Halifax International Security Forum,## when members of the congressional delegation,# based on your reporting -- you were first to## report this -- they were changing the narrative# around this document fairly dramatically.

NICK SCHIFRIN: We certainly are in different# place.

Not only the text is very different,## as we have discussed, but this weekend at Halifax,## a congressional bipartisan group led by# New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen,## as well as South Dakota Republican Mike Rounds,# Maine independent Angus King, announced that Rubio## had told them that this 28-point document# wasn't American, but was in fact Russian.

Take a listen first to Rounds and then King.

SEN.

MIKE ROUNDS (R-SD): What I can share with you# is what we have received today from the secretary,## and what he told us was that this was not the# American proposal.

This was a proposal which## was received by someone who has identified# and they believe to be representing Russia.

SEN.

ANGUS KING (I-ME): The leaked 28-point# plan, which, according to Secretary Rubio,## is not the administration's position, it is# essentially the wish list of the Russians.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Rubio's spokesperson went on# to call that -- quote -- "a blatant lie."

After that, both senators released statements not# disavowing what they said, but not repeating it## either.

Look, the bottom line is, Rubio insists# the 28-point plan was American.

And, frankly,## we're beyond that at this point, Geoff.# This new 19-point plan is very different.

And, of course, all of this is a negotiation with## Ukraine way before we get# to Moscow.

And, of course,## any document that's more acceptable to Ukraine# becomes more difficult for Moscow to accept.

GEOFF BENNETT: Nick Schifrin, terrific# reporting, as always.

We appreciate it.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Thank you.