Senior Pentagon officials have landed in Kyiv this week to initiate high-level talks aimed at securing a delicate peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, the US military confirmed on Thursday. Consequently, the high-level delegation, led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, expects to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky upon his planned return from a diplomatic trip to Turkey.
Reports detailing a new, controversial US-Russia peace plan began surfacing on Wednesday, specifically suggesting Kyiv must make major territorial and military concessions to end the protracted conflict. Nevertheless, official confirmation of this sensitive diplomatic proposal has not yet emerged from either Washington or Moscow, fueling intense speculation.
Significantly, this major diplomatic mission occurred just hours after a deadly Russian missile and drone attack tragically killed at least 26 civilians in Ukraine’s western city of Ternopil, according to local officials. Army spokesman Col David Butler stated the American delegation, which includes Army Chief of Staff Gen Randy George, embarked on a crucial fact-finding mission to meet with high-ranking Ukrainian government and military officials.
Moreover, Driscoll and General George represent the most senior US military personnel to visit the Ukrainian capital since President Donald Trump began his current term in office last January.
Concessions and Defence Aid
An image released on Wednesday shows Driscoll shaking hands with Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal. Following their meeting, Shmyhal posted on X, stating, “We focused on the next steps for implementing the historic defence agreements reached by President Zelensky and President Trump.” He also expressed gratitude for Washington’s approval of a $105 million support package for the PATRIOT air-defense system.
Specifically, multiple reliable outlets, including Axios, the Financial Times and Reuters, report the proposed 28-point peace plan demands Kyiv relinquish currently occupied territories, severely reduce its standing armed forces, and surrender various key weapon systems.
Additionally, President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, collaboratively drafted this contentious diplomatic framework. Conversely, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov immediately downplayed the significance of the leaked details, referencing “the spirit of Anchorage,” the August summit between Putin and Trump.
President Zelensky has consistently rejected any territorial concessions to Russia, with Kyiv and its Western allies, including the US, calling for an immediate ceasefire along the extensive front line. However, Moscow has dismissed these requests, insisting on conditions that Ukraine views as tantamount to capitulation.
