President Donald Trump has thrown a wrench into ongoing peace negotiations aimed at ending the nearly three-year conflict between Ukraine and Russia. His recent post on Truth Social, announcing the dispatch of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials and Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff to continue discussions in Moscow, has disappointed Ukrainian leaders. This development came as Andriy Yermak, chief advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, was in an interview outlining hopes for a peace summit.
During the interview, Yermak expressed optimism about a 19-point proposal that had been discussed between Washington and Kyiv officials. This proposal was intended to serve as a joint peace plan, ideally to be signed by Trump and Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. However, the announcement from Trump effectively diminished expectations for an imminent resolution.
In his post, Trump stated, “I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages.” He concluded with a hopeful message, urging for peace to be achieved “AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!” Upon reading Trump’s full statement, Yermak visibly reacted with disappointment, indicating the potential setback to Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts.
Yermak, when asked about the implications of Trump’s announcement, requested a follow-up conversation in 24 hours to better understand the evolving situation. He noted the necessity to evaluate Driscoll’s position upon his arrival and to discuss Witkoff’s agenda for his meeting in Moscow. “What is good with President Trump is that he can change his position very quickly,” Yermak remarked.
The urgency of diplomatic actions is compounded by the ongoing Russian missile strikes causing civilian casualties. Yermak highlighted the critical nature of the situation, stating, “Every day it’s a risk to lose best people, children. We have no time.”
Key to the discussions is the 19-point proposal, which Yermak had hoped would be accepted as a joint peace plan by the end of the week. However, Russia has not committed to this plan and had previously rejected an earlier version, known as the “28-point plan,” which was deemed more favorable to Moscow. The current draft is still far from final, as sensitive issues remain unresolved between Trump and Zelensky.
The chief advisor emphasized that only the United States possesses the leverage necessary to compel Russia into a deal. He pointed to various strategies, including sanctions and international pressure, as tools that could be employed. “I am sure that the United States of America has a lot of possibilities … how to press Russia,” Yermak stated, underscoring the significant role he believes Trump can play in this process. “I’m still sure that one leader in the world who can end this war … it’s President Trump,” he said.
As the situation develops, the focus remains on how these diplomatic efforts will unfold and whether the anticipated meetings can bring about a substantial shift towards peace in the region.
