Ukraine has agreed to the central elements of a U.S.-engineered peace proposal aimed at halting Russia’s nearly four-year assault, according to senior American officials and Ukraine’s national security leadership. The development marks the clearest indication yet that Kyiv is prepared to move toward a negotiated settlement brokered by President Donald Trump’s administration, even as Moscow has yet to publicly react.
A U.S. official told CBS News that “the Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,” adding that only “minor details” still require resolution. Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, separately confirmed that Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators reached a “common understanding on the core terms” of the proposal presented during weekend discussions in Geneva.
Umerov said Kyiv hopes to schedule a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington before the end of November to finalize the agreement directly with President Trump.
The talks unfolded across several locations, underscoring the intensity of the diplomatic push. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who has emerged as a central figure in the administration’s negotiations, held hours of meetings Tuesday with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi. A U.S. military official described the mood as “very optimistic,” noting that negotiators are waiting for Moscow’s formal response.
While Russia has offered no public acknowledgment of any progress, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier Tuesday that Moscow “appreciates the U.S. initiative” but does not comment before agreements are finalized. Lavrov added that Russia expects Washington to share outcomes from its consultations with Ukraine and European allies.
Umerov reiterated Ukraine’s desire for European backing as talks advance. “We now count on the support of our European partners in our further steps,” he wrote, adding that the goal is to secure a presidential-level meeting in Washington “at the earliest suitable date.”
Geneva Draft Narrowed After Pushback
Over the weekend, U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials met in Switzerland to refine the American proposal, originally structured as a 28-point document. Oleksandr Bevz, a Ukrainian delegate, told the Associated Press the draft was trimmed for clarity, with points unrelated to Ukraine or duplicating earlier provisions removed.
U.S. officials privately acknowledge the plan has faced criticism for appearing to lean toward Russian demands, though they insist the negotiation process remains fluid. The White House said in a statement that both sides completed an “updated and refined peace framework” after the Geneva talks.
Among the most contentious elements is a requirement—contained in an earlier draft—that Ukraine relinquish the full Donetsk region, including areas not currently under Russian control. Those terms, previously rejected by Zelenskyy, underscore the challenging concessions the U.S. believes may be necessary. According to one American official, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears confident that Donetsk will ultimately fall to Russia either at the bargaining table or on the battlefield.
In the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a major logistical hub for Ukrainian forces, Russian advances have heightened concerns in Washington and European capitals that Kyiv’s defensive position is weakening—a factor shaping the urgency of the Trump-led diplomatic effort.
Rapid Diplomatic Shuffle
Driscoll’s Abu Dhabi meetings followed earlier talks in Geneva that included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner. The multifront diplomatic effort also follows Driscoll’s recent visit to Kyiv, underscoring the speed with which the administration is attempting to lock in a ceasefire.
President Trump has pressed for progress before Thanksgiving, though Rubio suggested the timeline remains “flexible.” European allies have issued cautious support, calling the peace plan “a basis which will require additional work.”
Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Olga Stefanishyna, said Sunday that a separate document outlining “security assurances” from Washington mirrors aspects of NATO’s Article 5 protections, though Ukraine’s pathway to joining the alliance remains unsettled.
The apparent momentum behind the proposal reflects a shifting geopolitical landscape. With battlefield conditions increasingly favoring Russia in the east and European governments fracturing over long-term support, Ukraine faces rising pressure to engage in negotiations it resisted earlier in the war. Trump’s administration, eager to deliver a major foreign policy breakthrough, has invested significant diplomatic capital into fast-moving shuttle talks that are unusual both in structure and speed.
What remains unclear is the extent to which Russia will accept the framework agreed on by U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators. Moscow’s history of withholding public comment until late-stage deliberations suggests it is weighing whether the emerging terms meet its strategic objectives. A rejection or counterproposal from the Kremlin could reopen debates on some of the most difficult issues, including territorial concessions, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO.
If successful, the deal would mark the most significant diplomatic development since Russia invaded in 2022. If it falters, however, the current talks may reveal just how narrow the path to ending the war has become—and how much leverage has shifted as the conflict enters its fifth year.
CBSnews
