Trump Sends Envoys to Moscow and Kyiv for Peace Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump announced he is sending two top envoys—Steve Witkoff to Moscow and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to Kyiv—as his administration fine-tunes a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. The original 28-point proposal has faced backlash for favoring Russia. Trump says further talks and possible summits with Putin and Zelenskyy depend on progress in negotiations.
Ukraine Peace Plan Quick Looks
- Trump says his peace plan has been “fine-tuned”
- Envoys sent to meet Putin (Witkoff) and Ukrainian officials (Driscoll)
- Trump open to meeting Putin and Zelenskyy after progress
- Original 28-point plan criticized for favoring Russia
- Trump says proposal is still evolving, not final
- Leaked call shows Witkoff coached Kremlin aide on pitch
- Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says plan could be “workable”
- Macron, Starmer see momentum, but Europe wants guarantees
- Russia escalates drone, missile attacks on Ukraine amid diplomacy
- Ukrainian drone strike hits Russia’s Krasnodar region in retaliation
Deep Look: Trump Sends Peace Envoys to Russia and Ukraine as Revised Plan Gains Traction
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday that he is dispatching two top envoys to push forward with a revised plan aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, will travel to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is en route to Kyiv to speak with Ukrainian leaders.
The announcement comes amid mounting international pressure and as Trump’s original 28-point proposal draws heavy scrutiny from both American allies and critics. While that document was slammed for leaning too far in Russia’s favor—particularly on territorial concessions—Trump insisted the plan is still a “work in progress.”
“That was not a plan — it was a concept,” Trump told reporters Tuesday night aboard Air Force One.
Trump Defends Proposal, Suggests Inevitable Territorial Changes
Despite the backlash, Trump appeared to rationalize key aspects of the plan, notably the controversial provision calling on Ukraine to cede control of the Donbas region to Russia.
“The way it’s going, if you look, it’s just moving in one direction. So eventually that’s land that over the next couple of months might be gotten by Russia anyway,” Trump said, suggesting that battlefield dynamics may justify the territorial handover.
Independent analysts at the Institute for the Study of War argue otherwise, estimating it could take Russia several years to fully conquer Donbas based on current military progress.
Witkoff Under Fire for Coaching Kremlin
Trump’s remarks followed Bloomberg News’ publication of a leaked transcript revealing that Witkoff had coached Putin’s adviser Yuri Ushakov on how to approach Trump in a peace pitch. In the Oct. 14 call, Witkoff advised Ushakov to congratulate Trump on his successful Gaza ceasefire deal, painting him as a “man of peace.”
Trump dismissed the incident as “standard negotiation,” though lawmakers, including Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), weren’t convinced.
“He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired,” Bacon said on social media.
Bloomberg said it had reviewed a recording of the call but did not disclose how it was obtained. The Associated Press has not independently verified the transcript.
Global Talks Gain Momentum Amid Violence
While the diplomacy ramps up, violence on the ground continues to intensify. Russia launched overnight missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, killing at least seven people and injuring 20 others, according to Mayor Vitalii Klitschko.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 22 missiles and over 460 drones were fired, damaging energy infrastructure and civilian residences. A nine-story building caught fire in Kyiv’s Dniprovskyi district, displacing residents like 90-year-old Liubov Petrivna, who told AP:
“Absolutely everything was shattered. Glass rained down on me. I don’t believe in this peace plan. Putin won’t stop until he finishes us off.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine launched a retaliatory drone strike on Russia’s Krasnodar region, injuring six and targeting key military-industrial sites. Russia said it downed 249 drones in one of the war’s most massive aerial assaults to date.
Europe Pushes for Balance in Peace Talks
As Trump’s plan gains traction, European leaders are racing to ensure they aren’t sidelined in negotiations largely driven by Washington.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that the moment was “crucial” and urged partners to “seize the momentum.” He spoke after high-level U.S.-Ukrainian talks in Geneva and a virtual summit of European allies led by France and the UK.
“Negotiations are getting a new impetus,” Macron declared.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed Macron’s optimism, saying that Zelenskyy had indicated that “the majority of the text can be accepted.”
Still, Ukrainian delegate Oleksandr Bevz urged caution.
“It’s very premature to say that something is agreed upon,” Bevz told the AP in an interview from Kyiv, adding that the U.S. understands “security guarantees” are the linchpin of any enforceable peace.
Bevz also clarified that while the original 28-point plan has been trimmed, it’s inaccurate to report that it now stands at 19 points.
“We removed duplicates and points unrelated to Ukraine,” Bevz said. “This document is evolving.”
What’s Next? Potential Summits and Sensitive Talks
Trump indicated he might personally meet with Putin and Zelenskyy, but only after significant progress is made. Ukrainian adviser Rustem Umerov said via social media that Zelenskyy hopes to finalize a deal with Trump before the end of November.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Moscow remains in contact with Washington and awaits a finalized draft of the revised plan.
“We expect them to provide us with a version they consider interim, following their consultations with Europe and Ukraine,” Lavrov said.
While signals of progress are emerging, most international observers remain skeptical about a quick resolution. With active bombardments, political fallout over leaked communications, and global divisions over what a final peace deal should look like, the road to peace is long and fraught with complexity.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.