A U.S. official revealed to CBS News on Tuesday that the Ukrainian government has agreed to a peace deal brokered by the Trump administration, aimed at halting Russia's nearly four-year military aggression. According to the official and Ukraine's national security adviser, Rustem Umerov, both parties have reached a preliminary agreement, although finer details are still pending.
Umerov expressed optimism regarding a potential visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington before the end of November, where the finalization of the agreement could take place. CBS News was the first to report that discussions about this visit were underway, indicating a significant diplomatic effort to resolve the ongoing conflict.
The U.S. official confirmed to CBS News that Ukraine has indeed accepted the peace deal, with only minor details left to be ironed out. This announcement coincided with U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's visit to Abu Dhabi, where he met with Russian officials to discuss the peace negotiations. Two U.S. officials and two diplomatic sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, corroborated Driscoll's presence in the UAE capital.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from Russia regarding the newly brokered agreement, and both U.S. and Ukrainian officials have not disclosed specific details about the proposal. Umerov mentioned in a social media update that Ukraine has reached a consensus on the core terms of the peace proposal, which were discussed in Geneva over the weekend.
During a press briefing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged the U.S. initiative in addressing the conflict but emphasized that Russia prefers to operate in a professional manner, refraining from disclosing details before formal agreements are established. Lavrov also noted that Russia expects to be informed about the outcomes of the consultations between the U.S., Ukraine, and European nations shortly.
In his social media post, Umerov stated that Ukraine is counting on support from European partners and looks forward to organizing President Zelenskyy's visit to the U.S. in November to finalize the agreement with President Trump. A U.S. military official in Abu Dhabi reported that Driscoll engaged in extensive negotiations throughout the day, remaining hopeful for positive feedback from Russian representatives.
This apparent progress in Abu Dhabi occurs amidst a heightened push by President Trump to establish a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. A source informed CBS News that Driscoll was working from a revised version of the White House's 28-point proposal, following productive discussions in Geneva. The negotiations included key figures such as Driscoll, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other diplomats from Ukraine and European allies.
It is essential to note that the proposed peace plan contains several provisions previously rejected by Zelenskyy, such as the requirement for Ukraine to relinquish its entire Donetsk region and abandon its aspirations to join NATO. Additionally, there is a related document concerning security guarantees, which Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., Olga Stefanishyna, indicated aligns with Article 5 of the NATO treaty, promising defense support to member states under attack.
On Saturday, a coalition of NATO members and allied nations released a joint statement characterizing the proposed peace framework as a foundation needing further refinement. The White House confirmed that U.S. and Ukrainian officials have been working on an updated peace proposal following the Geneva talks.
Rubio described one of the Geneva sessions as notably productive, although he acknowledged that more work remains. President Trump has been urging Zelenskyy to reach a resolution by Thanksgiving; however, Rubio clarified that this timeline is flexible. A U.S. official noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to believe he will obtain the Donetsk region through either diplomatic means or military action, indicating a challenging road ahead for Ukraine.
As the situation evolves, the trajectory of the conflict suggests that Russia is making significant advancements in the eastern frontline city of Pokrovsk, which serves as a logistics hub for Ukraine. This development raises concerns regarding Kyiv's defensive capabilities and the potential implications for the ongoing war.