His staff is working on a new “secret” plan, in coordination with Moscow, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, an initiative that, according to American and Russian officials, is at an advanced stage.
As such, the plan includes 28 points and draws inspiration from the recent Washington agreement.
A senior Russian official expressed optimism about the progress of the negotiations, arguing that “for the first time the Russian position is really being heard,” while it remains unclear how Ukraine and its European allies will react.
It is divided into four broad sections: peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, overall security in Europe, and the future of US-Russia relations.
Hard issues such as control of territory in eastern Ukraine remain open, with Russia gaining ground on the ground but falling far short of its maximalist demands.
“We know the Americans are working on something”
Behind the scenes, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is leading the drafting of the plan and has held long meetings with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a central figure in the diplomatic process on Ukraine.
Vitkov was due to meet Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey, but the visit was postponed. However, he was preceded by a meeting with the National Security Advisor of Ukraine, Rustam Umerov, in Miami. “We know the Americans are working on something,” a Ukrainian official said, while the White House insists Trump believes “it’s time to stop the bloodshed and make a deal.”
According to Dmitriev, the plan is based on the principles agreed in Alaska between Trump and Putin in August, and seeks not only a solution for Ukraine but also a new security architecture for Europe.
Plan ahead of any Trump-Putin meeting
The goal is to draw up a comprehensive text before the next Trump-Putin meeting.
The Russian side separates the American initiative from the British “Gaza-style” plan, which it considers doomed as it “ignores Russian positions.” Meanwhile, Washington has already started briefing European partners on the key points of the proposal, with officials stressing that the final text will be adjusted based on comments from Kiev and Brussels.
“The timing is right,” a US official said, adding that all sides would have to show “pragmatism and realism” for any prospect of a deal that could change the course of the war and the future of US-Russia relations.
