Donald Trump has chosen a key representative to engage with Vladimir Putin in a last-ditch effort to salvage his proposed peace agreement for Ukraine. Trump shared on Truth Social that his strategy to resolve the conflict in Ukraine has been refined, and he confirmed the dispatch of US envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Putin in Moscow. Simultaneously, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will conduct a separate meeting with Ukrainian officials. Trump hinted at a potential future meeting with both Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in person, under the condition that significant progress is achieved in the ongoing negotiations.
Expressing his intentions on Truth Social, Trump stated, “To finalize this Peace Plan, I have instructed my Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to confer with President Putin in Moscow, while Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll engages with the Ukrainians. I will be updated on all advancements, along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. I eagerly anticipate the prospect of meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin, but only when the agreement to end the conflict is near completion.”
Following a meeting between Mr. Driscoll and Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, sources indicated positive progress, with talks being described as optimistic. Recent developments suggest that the Ukrainian delegation has reached agreements with the United States on the terms of a potential peace settlement. Trump mentioned that only a few contentious issues remain unresolved. However, initial peace proposals put forth by the White House faced criticism from Britain and European allies last week, as they required Ukraine to concede significant territory to Russia and impose limits on its military capacity.
Moreover, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer conveyed optimism about the discussions surrounding a possible ceasefire in Ukraine during conversations with leaders of the embattled nation’s allies. Starmer, hosting a meeting with European allies from Number 10, expressed satisfaction with the progress made, emphasizing the importance of aligning the plan with Ukraine’s interests for a lasting peace. Acknowledging constructive suggestions put forth by Ukraine and supported by European national security advisers, Starmer indicated a favorable trajectory in the negotiations, signaling potential acceptance of the majority of the proposed terms.
