President Trump ordered fresh diplomatic missions to Russia and Ukraine while establishing firm conditions for his personal participation in peace talks. The approach reflects White House confidence in negotiating progress despite international doubts about achieving a mutually acceptable settlement.
The president’s social media announcement detailed the assignment of Steve Witkoff to meet Putin in Moscow and Dan Driscoll to engage Ukrainian representatives. Trump characterized recent negotiations as productive, claiming that an evolving peace framework has been refined with input from both conflicting parties.
The contentious 28-point proposal initially drafted by American negotiators generated strong opposition from Kyiv and European capitals. Subsequent discussions in Geneva reduced the framework to 19 proposals, though fundamental disagreements over territorial issues and security guarantees persist.
Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov participated in Abu Dhabi meetings, indicating Kyiv’s continued engagement despite reservations about specific provisions. Ukrainian officials have emphasized that resolving territorial questions would require direct discussions between President Zelensky and President Trump.
European leaders conducted a conference call to coordinate positions on the peace negotiations, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noting Ukrainian proposals for constructive changes. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined the European consultation, signaling American commitment to maintaining allied coordination throughout the diplomatic process.