Ukraine says it has reached a “common understanding” with the United States on a new peace framework that could help end the war with Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve the remaining issues. Meanwhile, Trump has instructed his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to travel to Moscow next week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Revised Peace Plan Presented
The proposed peace plan was created by U.S. and Ukrainian officials during meetings in Geneva over the weekend. Trump said the draft has now been “fine-tuned” and called the earlier version “just a map,” not a final agreement.
Zelensky confirmed that some parts of the original proposal were removed, leaving a simpler version that both sides will continue to discuss. He stressed that Ukraine must be part of any security decision and insisted that Europe also play a role in peacekeeping or reassurance efforts.
US and European Diplomacy in Motion
While Witkoff heads to Moscow, U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll is expected to meet Ukrainian officials in Kyiv. Trump said he is not setting a strict deadline for a deal, saying:
“The deadline for me is when it’s over.”
He also mentioned that the talks involve possible land concessions “both ways” and measures to secure the border.
Key Challenges Still Unresolved
Major disagreements remain.
• Russia has not yet received the updated draft.
• Moscow warns that the changes may make the proposal unacceptable.
• Control of key eastern regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — is still a major point of conflict.
• Ukraine’s demand for strong security guarantees also remains unresolved.
European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have expressed doubts about how close a ceasefire really is. A group of allied nations is studying ideas for a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
Zelensky Warns Against Decisions Made Without Ukraine
Speaking to European partners, Zelensky said that any peace plan must involve Ukraine directly:
“When decisions are made behind a country’s back, there is always a risk they won’t work,” he said.
He stressed that continued support from both the U.S. and Europe is essential to ensuring that any agreement is durable.
