Ukraine says ‘understanding’ reached on US peace plan, as Trump envoy to meet Putin

Ukraine has said a “common understanding” has been reached with the US on a peace deal aimed at ending the war with Russia.

The proposal is based on a 28-point plan presented to Kyiv by the US last week, which American and Ukrainian officials worked on during weekend talks in Geneva.

In a post on social media, US President Donald Trump said the original plan “has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides”.

He said he had directed his special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week, while the US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll is expected to meet Ukrainian leaders this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that he was ready to meet Trump to discuss outstanding “sensitive points”, with his administration aiming for a meeting before the end of the month.

“I am counting on further active cooperation with the American side and with President (Donald) Trump. Much depends on America, because Russia pays the greatest attention to American strength,” he said.

A day earlier, Zelensky said the 28-point plan had been slimmed down, with some provisions removed.

Trump wrote on social media that he looked forward to meeting with presidents Zelensky and Putin “soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages”.

The president later told reporters the deal would involved land concessions “both ways” and “trying to clean up the border”.

Trump said he had not given either side a date to agree a deal by, saying “the deadline for me is when it’s over”.

The Kremlin previously said that Russia had not yet been consulted on the new draft deal, warning it may not accept amendments to last week’s plan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that while Moscow had been in favour of the initial US framework, the situation would be “fundamentally different” if it had undergone substantial changes.

As of Tuesday morning the Kremlin had not received a copy of the new plan, Lavrov said, accusing Europe of undermining US peace efforts.

American officials did not publicly address Russia’s concerns, although Driscoll and Russian representatives held meetings on Monday and Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.

Some of the issues which Russia and Ukraine are still deeply at odds over have reportedly remained unaddressed so far, including security guarantees for Kyiv and control of several regions in Ukraine’s east where fighting is taking place.

Despite the White House’s relative optimism, European leaders seemed doubtful that, after almost four years of war, peace could be within reach. French President Emmanuel Macron said he saw “no Russian will for a ceasefire”, while Downing Street warned there was “a long way to go – a tough road ahead.”

Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC