I’ll walk through how Trump’s diplomacy has reshaped global talks, how Kyiv shifted on a 28-point proposal, why the plan was trimmed to 19 points, where Russia stands, and what’s left to negotiate as the White House hosts sensitive talks.
President Donald Trump has been presented as a dealmaker on several international fronts, brokering pauses and agreements between entrenched foes. His administration’s record of stepping into active disputes has become a central talking point for those who see bold diplomacy as the way to end long wars. Supporters say these moves show that firm American leadership and direct engagement deliver results where vague promises do not.
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The centerpiece that’s proven hardest is the Ukraine-Russia crisis, where a detailed Trump-backed peace framework ran into resistance. Kyiv initially balked at key elements, including limits on NATO ambitions, force size caps, and restrictions on nuclear options. Those objections set off a round of intense negotiations aimed at trimming and reshaping the original package.
Officials close to the talks say the original 28-point plan was pared down to 19 points to find common ground and remove some of the most controversial items. “Many of the controversial provisions were either softened or at least reshaped” to secure Ukrainian buy-in, a Ukrainian delegate observed. That movement suggests negotiators are focused on practical, achievable steps rather than a list that would stall at first contact.
Kyiv’s public posture shifted after delegations met in Geneva with U.S. representatives, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated the new draft made the pathway more realistic. In a statement Zelenskyy said, “now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable. As of now, after Geneva, there are fewer points — no longer 28 — and many of the right elements have been taken into account in this framework.” He followed with, “Our team has reported on the new draft of steps, and this is indeed the right approach,” and added that he would discuss sensitive issues directly with President Trump.
White House officials described the progress in direct terms, saying core terms have been aligned between American and Ukrainian delegations and that only delicate details remain. Ukraine’s national security secretary Rustem Umerov echoed that assessment, noting that the teams “reached a common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva.”
Russia’s reaction has been cautious but open. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed the idea of a reduced plan and said Moscow will consider the interim product produced by Washington, Kyiv, and European partners. He also reminded everyone that Moscow expects the deal to respect agreements discussed earlier between Putin and Trump in Anchorage, warning that erasing that framework would change the situation materially.
Behind the scenes, U.S. diplomats and military officials have been shuttling between capitals to iron out the remaining language and verification mechanisms. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll held talks with both Russian and Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi, and U.S. officials described those discussions as progressing. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there has been “tremendous progress towards a peace deal” while flagging a few delicate but solvable points.
There are still sticking points about territory, security guarantees, and how reconstruction and amnesty are handled, all issues that touch core national interests for the parties involved. Moscow insists any agreement must not violate its prior understandings with the United States, while Kyiv wants assurances it can rebuild and survive without becoming vulnerable to future coercion. Europe watched the process closely, and some security provisions reportedly made it out of the pared-down draft.
Trump himself commented publicly on the evolving talks, posting, “Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” That kind of blunt-soldier optimism is familiar to his supporters, who argue that a strong negotiating posture at the top unlocks hard bargains.
Negotiators are aiming for a package that locks in realistic security guarantees for Ukraine while offering Russia acceptable terms to de-escalate and withdraw forces in stages. If the parties can codify verification, reconstruction timelines, and clear limits on future force structures, the deal could survive domestic scrutiny on all sides. The upcoming White House talks between Trump and Zelenskyy aim to finalize these sensitive points and see whether the trimmed framework can hold up to political pressure at home and abroad.
An agreement will still hinge on trust, enforcement, and whether all signatories accept the compromise trade-offs necessary to stop the fighting. Skeptics will demand details on how guarantees are monitored and what penalties follow violations, while proponents will argue that ending bloodshed and starting rebuilding is worth firm, enforceable concessions. The work now is procedural and precise, and eyes will be on the next rounds of talks to see whether diplomacy can convert momentum into a durable peace.
