The Trump administration has been conducting secret negotiations with Russia to develop a comprehensive peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to explosive new reports from multiple news outlets.
High-Level US-Russia Contacts Intensify
President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has been leading the administration's behind-the-scenes discussions with Moscow, with negotiations accelerating significantly in recent days. Sources indicate the administration believes the Kremlin has shown renewed willingness to consider a peace agreement.
The diplomatic efforts gained visible momentum when Army Secretary Dan Driscoll led a high-level Pentagon delegation to Ukraine on Wednesday morning. Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler confirmed the delegation arrived for what he described as "a fact finding mission to meet with Ukrainian officials and discuss efforts to end the war."
According to a US official familiar with the mission, Driscoll's team was directed by the president himself and represents part of the White House's broader initiative to revive peace negotiations. The delegation planned to discuss battlefield conditions, weapons requirements with President Volodymyr Zelensky, and the emerging peace efforts.
Comprehensive Peace Framework Under Discussion
Russian sources have independently verified to CNN that high-level contacts between US and Russian officials continue, including meetings involving Steve Witkoff. Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev traveled to the United States in October for discussions with Witkoff and other officials, which Russian sources characterized as "very productive."
The current draft agreement being negotiated between Washington and Moscow reportedly encompasses 28 distinct points, covering crucial aspects such as security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe, along with future US relations with both Russia and Ukraine.
However, the Kremlin attempted to downplay reports of significant progress. When questioned about the Axios report detailing the 28-point plan, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that "there are no new developments to report so far" regarding war termination. He referenced the August meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, suggesting discussions hadn't progressed beyond that point.
Uncertain Participation and Previous Failures
The involvement of European nations and Ukraine itself in these latest negotiations remains unclear, according to sources familiar with the discussions. It's uncertain whether either party would support the proposed peace framework currently under discussion between US and Russian officials.
This represents the latest in a series of attempts by the Trump administration to broker an end to the conflict. Previous peace talks have repeatedly collapsed when Putin refused to make substantial commitments to the peace process.
Earlier US peace proposals had focused on freezing Russian and Ukrainian forces along existing battle lines, an approach the Kremlin had previously rejected. The current 28-point framework appears to represent a more comprehensive attempt to address multiple aspects of the conflict and its aftermath.
The US delegation accompanying Driscoll to Kyiv included several senior military officials: Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George; Gen. Chris Donahue, the top US Army commander in Europe; and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer. While Driscoll hasn't been publicly involved in previous peace talk rounds, he maintains a close relationship with Vice President JD Vance.
