President Donald Trump has announced that his administration's plan to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine has been "fine-tuned" and is moving forward with high-level diplomatic engagements. The president revealed he is dispatching envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will confer with Ukrainian officials.
Diplomatic Push Intensifies
In a social media posting on Tuesday, Trump outlined his administration's comprehensive approach to resolving the conflict. The president indicated he would only meet with Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin when the deal reaches its final stages, emphasizing that substantial progress must first occur in negotiations.
Trump confirmed that he will receive regular briefings on all developments alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The structured approach demonstrates the administration's methodical strategy toward achieving a peace agreement.
Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday evening, Trump acknowledged the challenges in resolving the conflict, noting that "there's a lot of hatred" and "standard" disagreements over his proposal to stop the fighting. However, he expressed optimism that "people are starting to realize it's a good deal for both parties."
Territorial Concessions and Military Reality
At the core of Trump's peace proposal is the requirement for Ukraine to concede the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia, despite significant portions remaining under Ukrainian control. The president downplayed this element, suggesting that Russian forces would likely seize the territory eventually anyway given the current military trajectory.
"The way it's going, if you look, it's just moving in one direction," Trump stated. "So eventually that's land that over the next couple of months might be gotten by Russia anyway."
This assessment contrasts with analysis from the independent Institute for the Study of War, which estimates that based on current advancement rates, it would take several years for Russian forces to completely capture the Donbas region.
International Engagement and European Concerns
The diplomatic efforts gained momentum as Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi throughout Monday and Tuesday. Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, spokesman for the Army secretary, described the discussions as "going well" and expressed optimism about the emerging proposal.
European leaders, while largely sidelined in the initial proposal development, have scrambled to influence the negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that peace efforts are "clearly at a crucial juncture" and gathering momentum. The virtual "coalition of the willing" meeting of Ukraine's European allies on Tuesday, which included Secretary Rubio, aimed to address European security concerns.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered cautious optimism, stating that indications suggest "the majority of the text, Zelenskyy is indicating, can be accepted." However, Ukrainian delegate Oleksandr Bevz tempered expectations, calling it "very premature to say that something is agreed upon."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Moscow's latest attacks while acknowledging "solid and encouraging progress" on a peace deal. She emphasized that pressure remains essential until Russia demonstrates "genuine willingness to engage on a credible path toward peace."
Ongoing Violence Amid Diplomacy
Even as diplomatic efforts advanced, violence continued to plague the region. Russia launched a wave of overnight attacks on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, involving 22 missiles of various types and more than 460 drones. The strikes killed at least seven people, wounded twenty others, and damaged critical energy infrastructure.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported extensive damage, including a large fire in a nine-story residential building in the Dniprovskyi district. Ninety-year-old resident Liubov Petrivna described how "absolutely everything" in her apartment was shattered and "glass rained down" during the attack.
In response, Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russia's southern Krasnodar region, described by Governor Veniamin Kondratyev as "one of the longest and most massive" assaults. Russian authorities reported six wounded and claimed their air defenses destroyed 249 Ukrainian drones.
As negotiations continue, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that "the list of necessary steps to end the war can become workable" and plans to discuss outstanding "sensitive" issues directly with President Trump. With Russian officials remaining reserved in their comments and European leaders cautioning about the long road ahead, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges despite recent diplomatic momentum.
