Amid reports of a draft peace plan with Russia, U.S. military officials have arrived in Ukraine, underscoring international efforts to end the ongoing conflict. The draft plan, reportedly developed by President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, has neither been officially confirmed by Washington nor Moscow.
The proposed plan has surfaced amidst reports of requiring Ukraine to make significant concessions, such as ceding control over specific territories and reducing its military size. Led by U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, the American delegation is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday.
In a statement, U.S. military officials noted the visit focuses on discussing efforts to halt the conflict. Concurrently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on X the necessity for both sides to agree on difficult but essential concessions for a durable peace, indicating ongoing efforts to craft a ceasefire plan based on mutual input.
Despite these efforts, European officials like EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stressed the importance of involving Ukrainian and European perspectives, with Barrot declaring that the Ukrainian government opposes any notion of capitulation.
The emergence of a potential U.S.-Russia peace framework coincides with the tragic missile and drone strike in Ternopil, Ukraine, which killed at least 26 people, adding urgency to reconciliation efforts. While President Zelensky was reportedly planning meetings with Trump’s envoy in Turkey, the Ternopil attack interrupted these plans.
In Kyiv, the U.S. military delegation, featuring the highest-ranking officials to visit since Trump assumed office, continues dialogue with Ukrainian officials. Discussions with Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal revolved around implementing the historic defense agreements made between Presidents Zelensky and Trump, with security guarantees being a primary focus.
The 28-point draft plan by Witkoff and Dmitriev reportedly proposes Ukraine relinquish control over certain areas in the Donbas and make military reductions. However, President Zelensky has consistently rejected territorial concessions. Official responses from European or Ukrainian representatives remain absent from these negotiations, and Russian official Kirill Dmitriev has refrained from commenting on the reports.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, addressing these reports, downplayed them by referencing the 'spirit of Anchorage,' related to the August summit between Putin and Trump.