Trump: we are very close to an agreement on a peace plan for Ukraine

(Horizon Weekly) – U.S. President Donald Trump will send his special envoy for Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow next week, where he will meet Vladimir Putin to finalize the American version of the peace plan. Trump announced on social media that U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will, for his part, meet with the Ukrainian side, though he did not clarify with whom exactly.

Trump noted that many points of the peace plan have already been agreed upon, with disagreements remaining over only “a few” items. He expressed hope that he will soon meet with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine once the plan “is brought to its final form.” The White House also stated that they are very close to reaching an agreement.

“I think we’re getting very close to a deal – we’ll find out … I think we’re making progress,” the U.S. president said.

The White House leader stressed that there is no deadline for concluding a deal; what matters is that the war ends as soon as possible.

Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, confirmed that Witkoff will visit Moscow. However, he denied that the American peace plan was discussed in Abu Dhabi in recent days, as Reuters had reported. According to the agency, the plan was allegedly drafted on the basis of proposals Russia submitted to Washington in October. Reuters reported that it was precisely these issues the Russian and U.S. foreign ministers discussed in their latest phone call.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Volodymyr Zelensky wishes to meet with Trump “as soon as possible,” perhaps even this Thursday, to finalize the peace plan.

Zelensky told Ukraine’s allies during an online meeting that as a result of the Geneva negotiations, a framework document is already on the table, and he is ready to meet Trump to discuss the unresolved issues.

“That document is on the table, and we are ready to move forward with the United States, with President Trump’s personal involvement, as well as with Europe… I am ready to meet President Trump; there are sensitive points that must be discussed—those points still exist,” Ukraine’s president said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that London is “ready to move forward” with the European Union on providing a loan to Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets.

“This is the best way to show Putin that he must negotiate rather than try to drag out time. This is the best way for us to prepare to support Ukraine—whether in war or in peace,” Starmer emphasized.

Following the meeting, the President of France said they had decided to complete the process of granting Ukraine a recovery loan backed by frozen Russian assets, though he did not specify a timeline. Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine needs a stable peace that respects “international law.”

“We continue to do everything together with our partners to ensure that peace is established in Ukraine, as well as on the European continent—that it be a true and serious peace, one that respects international law, and is stable for Ukrainians and for all of us,” Macron noted.

The European Commission is prepared to present the legal text on the use of frozen Russian assets, the Commission President announced. Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the peace plan must guarantee real security both for Ukraine and for Europe.

NBC News reports that during last week’s visit to Kyiv, U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll warned Ukrainian officials that defeat is inevitable, as Russia is intensifying its attacks and can continue fighting indefinitely. According to him, the situation will only worsen for Ukraine, and it is better to achieve peace now and avoid ending up in a weaker position.

Meanwhile, both sides continued their strikes. Eighteen people were injured by Russian military attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine’s military, for its part, struck Chuvashia, injuring two people.