Trump Sends Envoys to Moscow and Kyiv as Peace Efforts Enter Critical Stage

The Trump administration has intensified its diplomatic push to secure a settlement in Ukraine, sending envoys to meet Russian and Ukrainian officials as discussions move into a more delicate phase. The White House says its proposal remains under revision, even as reactions from European governments and U.S. lawmakers highlight skepticism and geopolitical unease.

President Donald Trump described the peace initiative as a “concept” still undergoing adjustments and indicated he may hold direct talks with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy if negotiations progress. The proposal has prompted urgent international engagement, with allies seeking clarity over security guarantees, territorial implications, and Europe’s role in shaping any agreement.

Trump Says Plan Still Under Revision Amid Diplomatic Push

Speaking aboard Air Force One late Tuesday, Trump confirmed that envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow next week for high-level discussions with Putin. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, meanwhile, has been tasked with engaging Ukrainian officials following two days of talks with Russian counterparts in Abu Dhabi.

Trump said the negotiations remain challenging and rejected claims that his original 28-point framework was final. “That was not a plan — it was a concept,” he told reporters, adding that revisions were underway. The White House has not released the updated version publicly.

Trump suggested his son-in-law Jared Kushner could participate in upcoming meetings, saying momentum was building and that “people are starting to realize it’s a good deal for both parties.” The prospect of Kushner joining the process has drawn mixed responses in Washington, particularly from lawmakers wary of sidelining established diplomatic channels.

European officials reacted swiftly last week after the plan emerged, fearing the contours heavily favored Moscow and could reshape regional security without their input. Leaders across NATO capitals have held emergency consultations in recent days as they seek assurances that their interests will be incorporated.

Territorial Concessions at Center of Controversy

A key point in Trump’s proposal calls for Ukraine to relinquish the eastern Donbas region to Russia, despite Kyiv retaining control over large areas of the territory. Trump minimized concerns over territorial loss, arguing Russian forces were already advancing.

“The way it’s going, if you look, it’s just moving in one direction,” he said, suggesting Russia might seize the land in the coming months regardless of negotiations. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War dispute that timeline, estimating it would take several years for Russia to occupy the entire region at its current rate of movement.

Zelenskyy has been engaging directly with U.S. negotiators since the plan surfaced, pressing for stronger guarantees and protections. His government has consistently rejected any settlement requiring territorial concessions and maintains that Ukrainian sovereignty must remain intact under international law.

Transcript Controversy Sparks Political Backlash

Tensions intensified after Bloomberg News released details of an October call between Witkoff and Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov. The transcript reportedly showed Witkoff coaching Moscow on how Putin should approach a conversation with Trump, prompting sharp criticism on Capitol Hill.

Trump dismissed the reported exchange as “a very standard form of negotiation.” But Republican Representative Don Bacon, a frequent critic of Trump’s Ukraine stance, said Witkoff appeared to be favoring Russia and called for his removal. The Associated Press has not independently verified the recording.

Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, spokesperson for Driscoll, said discussions in Abu Dhabi were “going well” and that U.S. officials remained optimistic. Witkoff, a former real estate executive turned envoy, has emerged as Trump’s primary channel to Putin during this peace effort.

New Phase of Talks Involves U.S., Europe, and Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that diplomatic efforts were “at a crucial juncture,” following separate meetings involving U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian representatives in Geneva. A virtual session of European allies — described as a “coalition of the willing” — also took place, led by France and the United Kingdom.

Macron urged participants to “seize this momentum,” while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the emerging text appeared broadly acceptable to Kyiv, though discussions were far from complete. Ukrainian delegate Oleksandr Bevz cautioned that it was “very premature” to suggest agreement had been reached.

Bevz confirmed that the number of points in the draft had been reduced but denied reports that the list now contained only 19 items. He said revisions removed duplicates and sections addressing U.S.–Russia matters unrelated to Ukraine. Security guarantees for Kyiv, he added, would determine whether any deal was durable and enforceable.

Zelenskyy said Monday that progress was possible and that he planned to raise remaining “sensitive” issues directly with Trump. His adviser Rustem Umerov posted that Kyiv hopes to finalize a settlement at the earliest suitable date in November, though no timeline has been confirmed by Washington or Moscow.

Escalation on the Ground Underscores Fragile Outlook

As negotiations continued, Russia launched a large overnight barrage targeting Kyiv, killing at least seven people and striking residential areas and energy infrastructure. The attacks knocked out water, electricity, and heat in parts of the capital as winter approaches.

Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said 20 people were wounded, and images showed flames engulfing a nine-story apartment building in the Dniprovskyi district. Russia said it was responding to Ukrainian strikes on civilian targets in Russia, which Kyiv denies. A Ukrainian attack on southern Russia killed three people and damaged homes, authorities reported.

Liubov Petrivna, a 90-year-old resident whose apartment was shattered, told the Associated Press that “glass rained down” during the strike and voiced disbelief that peace talks would succeed. “No one will ever do anything about it,” she said, adding that Putin “won’t stop until he finishes us off.”

In Russia’s Krasnodar region, what officials described as one of Ukraine’s largest drone assaults wounded six people and targeted industrial sites, including an aviation repair plant and oil facilities. Russia said it intercepted 249 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions and Crimea, marking one of the most extensive attacks since the war began in February 2022.

Long Road Ahead Despite Diplomatic Activity

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow was in contact with U.S. officials and expected Washington to provide a revised draft after consultations with European and Ukrainian partners. He declined to comment on specific terms or timelines.

European leaders have repeatedly warned that any settlement will require sustained monitoring and credible enforcement to prevent future escalation. While recent talks reflect new engagement, diplomats across the region caution that the path to peace remains uncertain and potentially lengthy.

For now, the Trump administration appears determined to accelerate negotiations despite political pressure at home and ongoing hostilities on the ground. Whether the current momentum translates into a lasting agreement — or simply another phase in a protracted conflict — remains unclear.