The negotiation to end the war in Ukraine has experienced a significant turn after Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the ultimatum that he himself had set. For days, the American president pressured kyiv that it should agree to a deal before Thanksgiving Thursday. That deadline generated concern both in Ukraine and in several European capitals, because the initial draft – 28 points negotiated between Washington and Moscow – required the ceding of territory and a reduction in the size of the Ukrainian Army. Now, Trump has softened his tone and avoids any reference to closed dates. “The deadline for me is when it’s over,” he stated on the presidential plane, before adding on his social network that he will only meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin “when the agreement (…) is DEFINITIVE or is in its final phase.”
The retreat responds to the rejection caused by the initial version of the plan, which even included the handover of areas not occupied by Russia. Faced with the refusal of kyiv and the discomfort of the Europeans, the United States and Ukraine negotiated in Geneva a new 19-point draft, closer to Ukrainian priorities and aligned with the EU position. Moscow, however, accuses the initiative of trying to “undermine” the peace process.
Trump maintains that his team has made “significant progress” and that the original plan “has been refined with additional input from both sides.” Although he admits that there are still “some points of disagreement,” he trusts that the work of his envoys will speed up the resolution. He has ordered his special representative, Steve Witkoff, to travel to Moscow to meet with Putin, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will meet with the Ukrainians. Trump will receive any advance along with his closest circle: Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and his chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
Zelensky has responded firmly, but without closing the door to dialogue. The Ukrainian president assured that he was “prepared” to debate with Trump the “sensitive” points of the agreement, although he insisted that “security decisions about Ukraine must include Ukraine” and that European decisions must take into account Europe. In his speech before the Volunteer Coalition, he recalled that “every day Russia takes Ukrainian lives” and called for constant support in air defense, sanctions, resilience and a legal framework that allows the deployment of a multinational force when the war ends.
European reactions point to a joint effort to avoid a hasty agreement. Emmanuel Macron stressed that any ceasefire must guarantee a “strong” and “without limitations” Ukrainian Army, while Ursula von der Leyen spoke of “solid and encouraging progress” in recent days, despite the intensification of Russian attacks against civilian infrastructure. Keir Starmer welcomed that “most of the text could be accepted” and that the process is moving in a more balanced direction.
Trump’s setback from the deadline alters the diplomatic dynamic. Ukraine regains room to negotiate without a clock imposed from Washington; Europe strengthens its influence over the design of the final agreement; and Moscow observes a less hasty negotiation, but still marked by military uncertainty. Trump insists that he wants a “definitive” pact. Zelensky demands full guarantees. The EU remembers that, regardless of the progress, the war continues to mark the real time of any negotiation.
