Ukraine Peace Talks Advance but Major Questions Still Block Peace Deal By The Media Line Staff Washington and European capitals reported cautious progress Tuesday as US, Ukrainian, and Russian representatives continued efforts to shape a workable plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. American officials said Kyiv has largely signed on to the newest US proposal, describing only “minor details” […]
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The Media Line: Ukraine Peace Talks Advance but Major Questions Still Block Peace Deal
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Ukraine Peace Talks Advance but Major Questions Still Block Peace Deal
By The Media Line Staff
Washington and European capitals reported cautious progress Tuesday as US, Ukrainian, and Russian representatives continued efforts to shape a workable plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. American officials said Kyiv has largely signed on to the newest US proposal, describing only “minor details” still unresolved, though Ukrainian leaders stressed that several central issues remain open.
Ahead of a virtual gathering of allied governments, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Ukraine’s president Vladimir Zelenskyy appears willing to accept broad sections of the updated draft. Starmer noted that “in large part, the majority of the text looks as though, Volodymyr is indicating, could be accepted,” while also warning that Ukraine must receive “robust security guarantees” before any agreement is finalized.
Zelenskyy is weighing a visit to meet President Donald Trump “to complete final steps and make a deal,” according to Ukraine’s national security chief. The White House has sought to project confidence, with senior officials arguing that determined public messaging is meant to increase pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow to stay at the table. President Donald Trump echoed that stance, saying, “I think we’re getting very close to a deal.”
Yet Ukrainian officials familiar with the discussions described a more complicated picture. A source involved in the talks said that negotiators had settled most outstanding points but emphasized that “a decision had not yet been reached” on whether Ukraine would be required to relinquish territory occupied or claimed by Russia. The same source said Kyiv is pushing back on a proposed troop cap after a fresh figure replaced the earlier 600,000-soldier limit, insisting further changes are needed.
Ukraine also refuses to abandon its goal of joining NATO. The source said accepting that demand “would set a bad precedent” by allowing Russia influence over an alliance it does not belong to.
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, holding parallel meetings with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi, has been tasked with working through the remaining obstacles. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned separately that Moscow could reject any update to the plan if its terms diverge from understandings reached during the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska earlier this year.