In October 2025, President Donald Trump instructed his national security team to develop a strategy aimed at concluding the conflict in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from a recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Following this directive, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner began drafting a 28-point peace framework intended to address the four-year war in Ukraine. This initiative has reportedly been influenced by input from individuals close to the Kremlin, raising concerns among U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials regarding its alignment with humanitarian and geopolitical interests.

A U.S. official disclosed that a Ukrainian delegation has reached an agreement with the United States on the terms of a potential peace deal. U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll conducted secret talks with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to advance the peace process following discussions held in Geneva. The U.S. official noted that the Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal, with only minor details pending finalization.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Tolbert, a U.S. Army spokesman, indicated that Secretary Driscoll and his team have been engaged in discussions with Russian officials to achieve a lasting peace. He expressed optimism about the progress of the talks, which are being coordinated with the White House and other U.S. agencies. While neither Ukraine nor Russia has officially confirmed their delegations' presence in Abu Dhabi, a source familiar with the discussions indicated that Ukraine agreed to a revised 19-point peace plan during the Geneva talks, which notably omits provisions regarding amnesty for wartime actions and restrictions on Ukraine's military size.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged in a recent address that further work is needed on the revised plan. Following the Geneva talks, Russian officials stated they had not received updates on the discussions or the revisions made. The U.S. delegation in Geneva included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Army Secretary Driscoll, with Driscoll traveling to Abu Dhabi for further discussions with Russian representatives.

In a related development, Steve Witkoff engaged in a phone conversation with Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, to discuss potential peace initiatives for Ukraine. Witkoff suggested that achieving peace would likely require Russia to gain control of the Donetsk region, potentially involving a land exchange. He emphasized that land concessions were essential for a peace deal and encouraged a hopeful dialogue to facilitate the process.

The controversial 28-point proposal would require Ukraine to cede the entire Donetsk region to Russia, establishing these territories as a demilitarized buffer zone recognized internationally as Russian. Although Russia has not fully captured Donetsk, the plan would also grant Russia control over Luhansk and Crimea while maintaining current battle lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. President Putin has indicated that he views the U.S. proposal as a potential basis for a final settlement, although detailed discussions with Washington have yet to occur.

The involvement of military officials in these diplomatic negotiations reflects a strategic approach that may be perceived favorably by both Russia and Ukraine. However, Ukrainian officials have firmly stated their refusal to acknowledge Russian control over occupied territories or to accept limitations on their military capabilities. As the situation evolves, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that a few "delicate, but not insurmountable" details need to be resolved among Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. before a finalized peace deal can be established.