Trump Dispatches Envoys to Moscow and Kyiv as Ukraine Peace Deal Nears Climax; Zelenskyy Demands Direct Talks on ‘Sensitive Issues’

The diplomatic frenzy to end the nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine has reached a critical stage, as U.S. President Donald Trump announced he is dispatching high-level envoys to both Moscow and Kyiv. The concerted push aims to finalize a “fine-tuned” peace agreement that has been the subject of intense, high-stakes negotiations across multiple international capitals, including Geneva and Abu Dhabi. The success of the peace initiative now hinges on resolving the remaining “delicate details,” particularly those concerning territorial concessions.

President Trump disclosed that he has directed his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to meet directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week. Simultaneously, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is engaging with Ukrainian officials to hammer out the final language of the proposal. The twin missions underscore Washington’s determination to secure a rapid breakthrough in a conflict that has destabilized Europe.

“I think we’re getting very close to a deal,” President Trump told reporters, emphasizing that the original 28-point proposal—which initially drew heavy criticism for seemingly favoring Russia—has been significantly updated and refined with input from both warring parties. White House officials have cited “tremendous progress” made over the past week, confirming that there are “only a few remaining points of disagreement.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled Kyiv’s willingness to cooperate, confirming that the nation is ready to “move forward” with the core framework of the revised U.S.-backed plan. However, his team’s acceptance comes with a major caveat.

Zelenskyy stressed that the most sensitive and disputed issues of the agreement must be reserved for direct talks with President Trump. While not explicitly naming the issues, these points are widely understood to include the future status of the eastern Donbas region and the extent of any necessary territorial concessions.

Despite the diplomatic momentum, the peace talks are proceeding under a cloud of ongoing violence. Russia launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian targets, including deadly strikes on Kyiv, even as the delegations continued their high-level discussions in the Middle East.

Adding to the complexity, key European partners remain cautious. French President Emmanuel Macron, following a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” allies, warned that there is “clearly no Russian willingness” to stop the fighting or engage sincerely with the revised peace proposals.

For his part, President Trump reiterated his condition for a leaders’ summit: he will meet with President Putin and President Zelenskyy only when the comprehensive agreement to end the war is “FINAL or, in its final stages.” The clock is now ticking for his envoys to bridge the remaining gaps and secure an agreement on the future of Ukraine.