Trump Delays Personal Engagement Until Ukraine Peace Framework Nears Finalization

The American president established a phased approach to direct involvement in Ukraine peace negotiations, stating he will meet Russian and Ukrainian leaders only when discussions approach completion. Trump simultaneously deployed senior officials to conduct intensive talks in Moscow and Kyiv.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff received orders for Moscow discussions with President Putin, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll transitioned to engagement with Ukrainian representatives. The parallel diplomatic efforts aim to address remaining points of contention in an evolving peace framework.
Trump claimed significant advancement over recent days on refining proposals initially drafted by the United States. According to the president, only a few substantive disagreements remain between the conflicting parties.
The original 28-point American plan generated fierce opposition from Ukraine and its European allies, who objected to provisions they viewed as excessively favorable to Russia. Multiple negotiating rounds have produced revisions that administration officials claim address many concerns.
Despite White House confidence, persistent international doubt questions whether these negotiations will yield a lasting settlement. The fundamental challenge remains that acceptable terms for Ukraine typically prove unacceptable to Russia, creating seemingly irreconcilable positions that require difficult compromises from both sides.