Reports are emerging that Ukraine has tentatively agreed to a revised draft of a U.S.-brokered peace plan aimed at ending the devastating war with Russia. After months of doubts and tense negotiations, the development has sparked cautious optimism though many details still remain unresolved.
According to recent reporting, the Trump administration sent its original 28-point proposal to Kyiv last week. Ukrainian officials strongly pushed back at the time, warning that several provisions tilted heavily toward Moscow’s interests. One of the most controversial ideas Ukraine surrendering the Donbas region has been removed from the new 19-point draft. That issue is expected to be discussed later during direct talks between Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky acknowledged progress during his Monday night address but emphasized that “more work still needs to be done” before anything is finalized.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared to confirm the breakthrough while speaking in the House of Commons, noting that his current understanding is that both Ukraine and Russia have agreed to the draft that emerged from recent Geneva discussions.
Behind the scenes, diplomacy has accelerated. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll reportedly held quiet meetings with a Russian delegation in the UAE, following earlier multi-day talks in Geneva with Ukrainian negotiators. One official quoted by ABC News said Ukraine has accepted the terms “with only a few minor points left to sort out.”
The U.S. team leading negotiations includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Driscoll, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, however, offered a more guarded reaction. He said Moscow appreciates Washington’s efforts but cautioned that Russia does not “leak information before formal agreements are reached,” adding that the Kremlin expects updates soon as the U.S. completes consultations with Ukraine and European partners.
Zelensky has repeatedly warned that Russia may try to sabotage progress, saying on social media that disinformation and intimidation campaigns are already underway. Ukrainian officials have also stressed that the initial 28-point plan looked like a “wish list” for the Kremlin. The new draft, they say, reflects far more of Ukraine’s own priorities.
As Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya put it, “Very few things are left from the original version.” He added that Ukraine and its partners have finally built a “solid body of convergence.”
For now, all sides appear to be moving closer to an agreement but the final outcome still depends on tough negotiations ahead.
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