 "Trump says meetings with Zelenskyy, Putin will happen only when peace – Firstpost")
To move talks forward, Trump confirmed that US envoy Steve Witkoff will next travel to Moscow, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll—who recently took part in quiet discussions with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi—will go back to Kiev.
President Donald Trump has not given any clear timeline for joining Ukraine peace talks, but in the latest development, he has said he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin only if a final deal is on the table.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump seemed excited about the pace of the talks. “Over the past week, my team has made tremendous progress with respect to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine,” he said, emphasizing that the once-controversial 28-point peace plan has undergone major revisions. “The original plan has been fine-tuned with additional input from both parties, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement.”
To move talks forward, Trump confirmed that US envoy Steve Witkoff will next travel to Moscow, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll—who recently took part in quiet discussions with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi—will go back to Kiev. The idea, said one aide, is to keep communications “consistent, direct and practical” rather than symbolic.
Kiev, for its part, indicated that it is ready for the next round. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Ukraine was ready for a meeting of the leaders once everything was arranged. “We have laid a solid foundation in Geneva,” Yermak said. “President Zelensky and the entire team in Kyiv are fully committed to further cooperation. We will make thorough and immediate preparations for the meeting of the presidents.”
Behind the scenes, US and Ukrainian negotiators have reportedly agreed in principle to an updated version of the plan drawn up in Geneva, which shifts from broad territorial concessions to an emphasis on stronger long-term security guarantees for Kiev. These guarantees – which could include US commitments and potentially European participation – are becoming central to any final agreement.
Still, obstacles remain.
Kiev is rejecting any proposal that would force it to formally surrender territory seized by Russia, while Moscow insists that any peace deal must recognize “new realities”.
However, Trump insisted that the process was moving in the right direction.
“We are getting very close,” he said, adding that their in-person meetings would take place only when both sides were ready to seal the deal.
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