Senior US military officials have arrived in Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky as reports circulate of a potential peace framework with Russia that could demand substantial concessions from Kyiv. The delegation, led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday and is expected to hold discussions on Thursday about ending the conflict.
Reports suggest the draft plan, reportedly crafted by former President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, would require Ukraine to relinquish control of parts of the Donbas region, cut the size of its armed forces, and surrender significant military assets. Neither Washington nor Moscow has formally confirmed the plan.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on X that a “durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions,” signaling ongoing efforts to explore options to end the war. European officials emphasized that any deal would need Ukrainian and European support. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the continent must be included in any viable solution, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that Ukraine would not accept capitulation.
The military delegation visiting Kyiv is the most senior to travel since Trump assumed office in January. Alongside Driscoll are Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, Europe’s top US Army commander Gen. Chris Donahue, and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer. Army spokesman Col. David Butler described the visit as a “fact-finding mission to meet Ukrainian officials and discuss efforts to end the war.”
Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal posted on X that discussions focused on “next steps for implementing the historic defence agreements reached by President Zelensky and President Trump,” while a Ukrainian official told CBS the talks will consider both the military situation on the ground and possible ceasefire arrangements.
The draft 28-point plan reportedly emerged weeks after Witkoff and Dmitriev met in Miami for three days, without input from European or Ukrainian officials. Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, have downplayed the reports, referring to prior discussions known as “the spirit of Anchorage” from an August summit in Alaska.
Read Also: Instagram, Facebook To Drop Users Under 16 In Australia — Meta
Meanwhile, a White House official confirmed that special envoy Keith Kellogg will leave his post in January, marking the end of his tenure overseeing US support for Ukraine—a role seen as vital for Kyiv amid concerns that Trump has sometimes sided with Moscow in the conflict.
Amid missile and drone strikes in western Ukraine that killed at least 26 people in Ternopil, the war continues to devastate civilians, underscoring the urgency and complexity of any potential peace negotiations.