Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that there were “only a few remaining points of disagreement” — but European leaders were skeptical, and Russian missiles continued to strike Ukraine.
He also expressed hope to meet “soon” with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, “but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages.”
Trump later told journalists aboard Air Force One that his son-in-law Jared Kushner may join Witkoff in Moscow.
Washington’s 28-point proposal to end the war may have originated in a call between Witkoff and Putin’s foreign policy advisor, according to a transcription of their conversation Bloomberg reported it had obtained.
According to the transcript, Witkoff advised the creation of a 20-point peace plan for Ukraine “just like we did in Gaza,” and urged that Putin bring it up with Trump.
The 28-point plan, backed by Trump and widely seen as favoring Moscow, has been replaced by another taking in more of Kyiv’s interests.
An official familiar with the amended version told AFP it was “significantly better.”
Witkoff will soon discuss that version with Putin in Moscow, though French President Emmanuel Macron has thrown cold water on the idea of a rapid solution.
Speaking after a call between the so-called coalition of the willing, which supports Kyiv, Macron warned on Tuesday that there is “clearly no Russian willingness” for a ceasefire or the new, more Ukraine-friendly proposal.
Yet US negotiator Dan Driscoll emerged upbeat from meeting with Russian counterparts, with his spokesman saying: “The talks are going well and we remain optimistic.”
The White House cited “tremendous progress,” while cautioning “there are a few delicate but not insurmountable details that must be sorted out.”
But the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, continued unabated.
On Tuesday night, Russia launched a series of strikes on Zaporizhzhia that wounded 18 people and damaged 31 apartment blocks, the head of the regional military administration said.
The night before, powerful explosions rocked Kyiv beginning around 1:00 am as Russian drones and missiles rained down, setting fires in apartment buildings. City officials said seven people were killed.
