Ukraine says it has reached a “common understanding” with the United States on a revised peace framework aimed at ending the war with Russia, following weekend talks in Geneva that reshaped Washington’s original 28-point proposal.
Talks Intensify as U.S. Revises Its Peace Plan
American and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva over the weekend, resulting in significant adjustments to the plan the U.S. initially presented to Kyiv.
President Donald Trump confirmed on social media that the proposal had been “fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides.”
Ukrainian National Security Secretary Rustem Umerov said both delegations aligned on the core terms following the revisions.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled readiness to move forward, saying Kyiv is prepared to discuss the remaining “sensitive points.”
Trump Sends Envoys to Moscow and Kyiv
President Trump announced he has instructed U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week, while U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will meet Ukrainian officials this week.
Trump said he hopes to meet with both Zelensky and Putin “only when the deal to end this war is final or in its final stages.”
He reiterated that only a few issues remain unresolved.
Russia Holds Back as European Leaders Express Doubt
The Kremlin said it had not yet received the revised draft.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that Moscow’s acceptance would depend on whether the U.S. changes were substantial.
European leaders voiced skepticism.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he sees “no Russian will for a ceasefire,” while the UK cautioned that there is still “a long way to go.”
Disputed Issues Remain
Although progress was made in Geneva, several major disputes still stand:
- Security guarantees for Ukraine
- Control of contested regions in eastern Ukraine
- Russia’s demand for legal recognition of territory it currently occupies
- Questions surrounding Ukraine’s military size and future alignments
The earlier leaked draft — which Ukraine did not negotiate — contained severe concessions, including shrinking its armed forces and ceding parts of the Donbas. Kyiv rejected those provisions.
The new framework reportedly narrows the plan from 28 points to 19, though details have not been publicly released.
Zelensky Balances Pressure and Partnership
Zelensky recently said Ukraine faces a choice between protecting its dignity and maintaining its key relationship with the U.S.
Trump had previously pushed for a deal by Thanksgiving, but that deadline appears to be gone.
Talks continued this week in Abu Dhabi, where U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian representatives met discreetly with Driscoll.
DOJO Perspective
With both Kyiv and Washington describing progress — and Russia signaling caution — the emerging framework appears to be entering a decisive phase.
While optimism exists in Washington, European leaders remain wary, and Moscow has yet to formally respond to the revised document.
For now, the path forward hinges on the unresolved issues that continue to define the conflict: territorial control, security guarantees, and whether both sides can accept the political costs of compromise.
