Progress is being recorded regarding developments on the Ukraine front in recent hours, as Axios notes in its analysis. The consultations in Geneva are leading to a revised framework, which the US characterizes as “updated and improved.” In Sunday’s talks in Geneva, the US and Ukraine reduced the original peace text from 28 to 19 points. A US official argued that Ukraine “has agreed to the peace agreement,” although “minor details” remain. For their part, Ukrainian officials do not confirm full agreement but express increasing optimism. At the same time, it appears that the European “counter-plan” was unsuccessful, with European Union leaders focusing on more realistic modifications to Trump’s plan. However, Zelensky’s National Security Advisor, Rustem Umerov, stated that the two sides reached a “common understanding” on the basic terms. According to Ukrainian officials, the US agreed to strengthen the security guarantees component accompanying the original 28-page draft. The most sensitive issue, territorial concessions, was agreed to be discussed directly between Presidents Trump and Zelensky. Meanwhile, issues not directly related to peace in Ukraine – such as NATO’s future, European security, and broader US-Russia relations – were removed from the framework.
Peace plan for Ukraine: Ukrainian armed forces limited to 800,000 soldiers
According to the Financial Times, perhaps in a goodwill gesture toward this side, Ukraine has already agreed to limit its Armed Forces to 800,000 men. At the same time, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is in Abu Dhabi for contacts with Russian officials, seeking Moscow’s stance on the new version of the plan, taking on a leading role in the process.
Driscoll arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Monday and, according to his spokesperson Jeff Tolbert, has been conducting successive meetings with the Russian delegation since Tuesday. “The talks are progressing well and there is optimism,” Tolbert noted, pointing out that the secretary is in close coordination with the White House and US agencies.
A Ukrainian delegation is also in Abu Dhabi, led by General Kyrylo Budanov, head of military intelligence services. According to sources, the Ukrainian team has contacts with both sides.
Politico, citing sources with knowledge of the proceedings, also reported that Ukrainian and Russian military intelligence chiefs had scheduled a meeting on a different topic, but Driscoll’s arrival reshaped the original planning.
Russian reaction
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned earlier that his country will not accept the new text if it deviates from what it believes was agreed between Putin and Trump in Alaska. As he stated, Russia “welcomed” the original American plan, but “if the spirit and letter of Anchorage are erased, the situation will change fundamentally“.
Umerov mentioned that Ukraine seeks Zelensky’s visit to the US “on the first suitable date in November,” so that the agreement can be finalized at the leadership level. No date has been set so far.
