U.S. President Donald Trump discuses ongoing efforts to broker a Ukraine-Russia peace deal amid stalled negotiations. Image credit: Anadolu Ajansi
(The Post News) – United States President Donald Trump struck an upbeat tone on Tuesday. He attempted to revive momentum for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. He said the “only deadline” he sees for an agreement “is when it’s over.” Negotiations remain stuck on the most sensitive issues: territorial control and long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials said they would soon send teams to Moscow for negotiations. Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Olga Stefanishyna, said Kyiv wanted to “move forward” but not at the cost of its sovereignty.
Washington Pushes Hard for Progress
“Real progress, not just words,” Trump insisted, was separating the parties by “only a few remaining points of disagreement.” He said his envoy, Steve Witkoff, would travel to Moscow next week to see Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has assumed an unexpected central role. He will fly to Kyiv for more talks with Ukrainian leaders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed his readiness to meet with Trump “as soon as possible.” He aims to work out a prospective deal. However, he underscored that Ukraine still faces “sensitive points.” These issues can be settled only at the top level.
“We continue to refine the draft proposal negotiated in Geneva. The principles formulated in this updated document may develop into deeper agreements,” Zelenskyy said in a Tuesday evening address. Huge disagreements, however, still separate Kyiv and Moscow.
The Kremlin confirmed it reviewed the newest version of the U.S.-backed peace plan; neither side has released the text publicly. Yuri Ushakov, Russian presidential adviser, said some sections “can be viewed positively.” However, he argued that many others need “serious analysis.” Russian officials also accused European governments of interfering in the peace process. They pushed revisions that dilute Moscow’s earlier advantages.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added that the final agreement must adhere to the spirit of the understanding. This understanding was reached by Trump and Putin. It also needs to align with the letter of their agreement during their Alaska summit in August. After that meeting, Trump appeared more open to Russian demands for territorial concessions from Ukraine.
Initial Draft Sparks Global Concerns
The original 28-point peace plan, drafted by Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, drew outrage across Europe. That version asked Ukraine to cede occupied territories. It required Ukraine to accept limits on the size of its armed forces. Furthermore, Ukraine had to abandon its pursuit of NATO membership. In European capitals, officials labelled the proposal too accommodating to Russia, cautioning that Ukraine would emerge dangerously weakened.
But European capitals pushed back hard. French President Emmanuel Macron said the initial draft put “limitations” on Ukraine’s army that Europe “cannot accept.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament the framework “does not cover” territorial concessions. This means Europe will not endorse any plan that forces Ukraine to surrender land against its will.
Renewed Attacks Underscore Urgency
While negotiators haggle over paper, reality on the ground keeps shifting. On Tuesday, Russia launched another heavy night of missile and drone strikes, firing 22 missiles and 464 drones at Ukrainian cities, mainly Kyiv. Seven people were killed in the attacks, which disrupted power and heating infrastructure. Zelenskyy called the strikes “especially cynical” given ongoing diplomacy.
As Washington took the lead, European leaders scramled to stay involved. In a video conference of the “coalition of the willing,” 30 countries supporting Ukraine participated. Leaders agreed to build a joint task force. This task force will finalize security guarantees for Ukraine. Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-chaired the meeting, which included Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Europe also inched closer to unlocking frozen Russian assets intended for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The E.U. will finalize a legal plan on that “in the coming days,” Macron said. Reports have emerged. Trump seeks to divide the funds between the rebuilding of Ukraine and investment projects in the United States and Russia. Many Europeans are skeptical about this idea. Despite Trump’s confidence, there are deep gaps remaining. Ukraine refuses to agree to Russia’s demand that it cede the remaining 30 percent of Donetsk province. Moscow rejects Western revisions that would permit Kyiv to join NATO or retain a robust military. Putin said the revised plan could “serve as a foundation for a final peace agreement.” He warned that Russia will continue to take territory “inevitably” if talks fail.
For the moment, diplomats anticipate negotiations will grind on following the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, with no breakthroughs in sight. Trump’s optimism remains high. However, the pathway to peace still runs through deep mistrust. It also confronts hard military realities and clashing political visions.
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