Senior Officials Head to Moscow and Kyiv as Trump Sets Summit Conditions

The White House intensified Ukraine peace diplomacy while President Trump maintained specific prerequisites for his personal involvement. Trump announced he would engage Putin and Zelensky directly only after negotiations produce a nearly finalized agreement.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff received orders to travel to Moscow for discussions with Putin, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll transitioned from Russian contacts to Ukrainian officials. The coordinated missions reflect the administration’s strategy to pursue parallel negotiations with both parties.
Trump claimed tremendous progress over the past week on refining a peace framework initially drafted by American negotiators. According to the president, only a few remaining points of disagreement separate the conflicting parties, though these involve core issues.
The original American proposal drew sharp criticism from Kyiv and European capitals, generating intense opposition that required substantial revisions. Subsequent negotiating rounds have produced a modified framework, though fundamental challenges remain in reconciling Russian and Ukrainian positions.
European leaders conducted a coordination call that included Ukrainian President Zelensky and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted Ukrainian proposals for constructive changes to the peace framework, while Rubio’s participation signaled American commitment to maintaining allied coordination.