President Donald Trump claimed ‘tremendous progress’ has been made on Russia-Ukraine peace talks, with diplomats indicating that negotiations are the closest they have been to an agreement since the war began. In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump announced that he would not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until the peace deal is finalized. He emphasized that the U.S.-drafted 28-Point Peace Plan, which had been fine-tuned with input from both Kyiv and Moscow, is near completion with only minor disagreements remaining.
Trump outlined the next steps in the negotiation process, stating he had directed his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Putin in Moscow while Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll would engage with Zelenskyy. He also emphasized that he would be briefed regularly on the negotiations by key advisors, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Trump expressed hope that the peace deal would be finalized soon, emphasizing the importance of achieving peace ‘as soon as possible.’
Despite the progress, U.S. diplomats described the negotiations as being ‘closest they have been’ to an agreement since the war began. However, Russia launched a drone-and-missile strike on Kyiv overnight, killing at least seven people and damaging critical infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing challenges in achieving peace. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France and its EU partners were close to finalizing a plan to support Ukraine and secure a peace rooted in international law, emphasizing the need for sanctions and security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression.
Macron outlined the coalition’s priorities, including increased sanctions on Russia, the implementation of U.S. sanctions, and actions against the ‘shadow fleet’ involved in illicit oil shipments. He emphasized the need for long-term security guarantees to ensure any ceasefire is enforceable and durable, stressing that the next few days are crucial for finalizing these measures. Despite the ongoing violence, Trump and Macron have both expressed their commitment to achieving a sustainable peace in Ukraine, though challenges remain in aligning the interests of all parties involved.