Trump Sends Envoys to Push Ukraine-Russia Peace Deal as European Allies Scramble

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration has “fine-tuned” its plan to end the war in Ukraine and is sending two senior envoys for high-level talks with Moscow and Kyiv. Real estate developer–turned-diplomat Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow next week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will meet Ukrainian officials.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump described the earlier 28-point proposal as “a concept,” saying the plan is still evolving. Parts of the proposal have drawn criticism for heavily favoring Russia — particularly a provision that would require Ukraine to concede the entire eastern Donbas region.

Trump suggested the territory might fall to Russia “in the next couple of months” based on current battlefield trends. But independent analysts say it could take Moscow years to capture all of Donbas at its current rate of advance.

Talks Underway Amid Fresh Attacks

Driscoll met Russian officials Monday and Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. The discussions came as Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Kyiv — firing 22 missiles and more than 460 drones — killing at least seven people and causing widespread power outages. Ukrainian counterstrikes hit targets in southern Russia, including an aviation repair plant, a drone factory, and an oil terminal.

A 90-year-old Kyiv resident, Liubov Petrivna, described how “glass rained down” in her home during the strike. She said she has no faith in peace negotiations: “Putin won’t stop until he finishes us off.”

Political Pressure and Leaked Transcript

A leaked transcript published by Bloomberg reveals Witkoff advising a top Kremlin aide on how Putin should handle a call with Trump. Trump dismissed the report as “standard negotiation.”
But Republican Congressman Don Bacon accused Witkoff of “favoring the Russians” and urged his removal from the negotiations.

Europe Pushes to Influence the Deal

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said European nations are working to influence the peace framework. Macron described the talks as being at “a crucial juncture,” while Starmer said most of the text is “acceptable” to Ukraine — though Ukrainian delegates caution it is too early to claim progress.

Ukrainian adviser Rustem Umerov said President Zelenskyy hopes to finalize an agreement with Trump “at the earliest suitable date in November.”