The Trump administration is quietly crafting a sweeping new agreement with Moscow designed to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
In a behind-the-scenes diplomatic effort, President Trump's envoys are developing a 28-point proposal with Russian officials that seeks not only to halt hostilities in Ukraine but also redefine long-term U.S.-Russia relations, Axios reported.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been engaged in regular conversations with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian envoy involved in the negotiations. The developing plan draws inspiration from Trump’s earlier foreign policy negotiations, especially his well-touted success in brokering a Gaza agreement.
Diplomatic Playbook Mimics Trump's Gaza Strategy
According to sources familiar with the matter, the plan is currently divided into four broad areas: peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, European security, and the future of relationships between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine. Of course, just mentioning “security guarantees” ought to get heads turning in Brussels.
Dmitriev, who met personally with Witkoff and members of the Trump camp in Miami from Oct. 24 to 26, signaled confidence about the progress so far. “We feel the Russian position is really being heard,” Dmitriev said. One can only assume the Washington foreign policy class hates that sentence.
The current draft has not yet taken a clear position on what happens with territory in eastern Ukraine—particularly areas where Russian troops have advanced without securing full control. That kind of ambiguity might make diplomats nervous, but it also leaves room for creativity.
U.S. and Russia Seek More Than a Ceasefire
The groundwork for this effort appears to have been laid in Alaska last August, when Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to pursue shared principles for ending the violence. That’s right—real conversations between world leaders without State Department interference.
The Russian position is bolstered by recent battlefield successes, Dmitriev noted. “It’s happening with the background of Russia definitely having additional successes on the battlefield,” he said, underlining the Kremlin’s perceived leverage going into discussions.
Despite this, the White House maintains that Trump’s focus remains on ending the bloodshed, not scoring political points. “The president has been clear that it is time to stop the killing and make a deal to end the war,” a White House official said. “President Trump believes that there is a chance to end this senseless war if flexibility is shown.”
Ukraine and Feedback from European Allies
Witkoff had originally planned to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey on Wednesday, but ended up postponing the meeting. Earlier in the week, however, he met with Ukraine’s national security adviser Rustem Umerov in Miami to present elements of the plan.
While Kiev has yet to publicly respond, Ukrainian officials are aware that Washington is formulating a new proposal. “We know the Americans are working on something,” said one unnamed Ukrainian official. Though vague, that’s a sign Zelensky isn’t completely out of the loop—yet.
European powers are also being cautiously introduced to aspects of the draft. Quiet efforts have begun to brief U.S. allies across Europe and gauge their appetite for what is bound to be a politically charged agreement. In other words, the back channels are humming.
Plan Completion Tied to Upcoming Talks
The full written version of the peace framework is expected to be completed before Trump meets with Putin again. A potential summit in Budapest remains on indefinite hold, but clearly the gears are turning behind closed doors.
Dmitriev emphasized that this negotiation effort is separate from the U.K.-led attempt to apply a Gaza-style plan to Ukraine, a strategy Moscow flatly opposes. If this deal is going to work, both sides seem to agree it can’t be a one-size-fits-all package made by bureaucrats half a world away.
As a U.S. official put it, “We think the timing is good for this plan now. But both parties need to be practical and realistic.” That practicality might end up meaning some hard truths and open-eyed assessments in Washington, Kiev, and Brussels alike.
