President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his proposal to end the war in Ukraine has been “fully fine-tuned,” and announced that he is sending two envoys to hold separate talks with Russia and Ukraine as negotiations intensify.
Trump confirmed that businessman Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will meet with Ukrainian officials. The president added that he may eventually sit down with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself, but only “once real progress has been made.”
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump described his original 28-point outline—revealed last week—as an evolving framework. “That wasn’t a plan; it was a concept,” he told reporters, emphasizing the complexity of ending the nearly four-year conflict.
The Trump envoys Putin Ukraine plan has generated global reactions…
Europe caught off guard by Trump’s proposal
The initial version of Trump’s plan drew immediate attention from Kyiv and alarm among European allies, who viewed its early terms as disproportionately beneficial to Russia. Concerned about being sidelined, European leaders rushed to reinsert themselves into the process while encouraging Zelenskyy to engage directly with U.S. negotiators.
Trump said Witkoff is expected to meet Putin next week, possibly joined by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. “People are beginning to see that it’s a good deal for both sides,” he claimed.
One of the most controversial elements is the expectation that Ukraine would concede the entire Donbas region, despite much of it remaining under Ukrainian control. Trump downplayed the issue, arguing that Russia is already advancing there. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War disagree, estimating that Moscow would need several years to capture the whole territory.
One of the most surprising aspects of the Trump envoys Putin Ukraine plan is…
Talks continue amid deadly strikes
Trump’s comments came as Driscoll met Russian officials in Abu Dhabi. At the same time, Russia launched overnight strikes on Kyiv, killing several civilians and heavily damaging residential buildings and power infrastructure. Ukraine responded with one of its largest drone attacks on southern Russia, hitting industrial facilities.
Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Tolbert, spokesperson for the Army secretary, said the negotiations were “going well” and that the administration remained “optimistic.”
Controversy over leaked call
Trump also reacted to a Bloomberg report detailing a leaked transcript of an October 14 call in which Witkoff allegedly advised a top Putin aide on how the Russian president should pitch the peace plan to Trump. The president dismissed the revelation as “a very standard part of negotiation.”
However, Representative Don Bacon, a Republican critical of Trump’s strategy, said the transcript showed clear favoritism toward Russia. “He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations,” Bacon wrote, calling for Witkoff’s removal.
Bloomberg said it reviewed a recording of the call, though the Associated Press has not independently authenticated it.
International pressure grows
French President Emmanuel Macron said that diplomatic efforts are “at a critical juncture” after U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva and European allies held a virtual strategy session. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio participated in both gatherings.
“Talks are gaining momentum,” Macron said, urging allies to capitalize on the moment. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the optimism, noting that Zelenskyy had signaled broad acceptance of much of the revised text.
Still, Ukrainian delegate Oleksandr Bevz cautioned that it is “far too early” to declare progress. He confirmed that the proposal has been shortened to remove duplicate or irrelevant points and emphasized that strong security guarantees for Ukraine will determine whether any agreement is sustainable.
A long road ahead
Zelenskyy said Monday that the “list of steps needed to end the war could become workable,” and he expects to discuss remaining sensitive issues directly with Trump. Russian officials have provided few details but said they remain in contact with Washington.
Meanwhile, residents of Kyiv described scenes of devastation after overnight missile and drone attacks. A 90-year-old survivor told the AP that “glass rained down everywhere” and said she does not believe any peace plan will stop the conflict.
Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia’s Krasnodar region injured several people and targeted industrial plants, refineries and logistics facilities. Russia claimed to have intercepted more than 460 Ukrainian drones overnight.
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Source: BBC News