Ukraine has agreed to the core terms of a peace proposal brokered by the Trump administration, with only minor details left to finalize, as US-mediated talks with Russian officials continue in Abu Dhabi.
According to CBS News, a US official said that Kyiv had effectively accepted the deal, describing the remaining issues as technical in nature. Ukraine’s National Security Adviser Rustem Umerov confirmed that a “common understanding” had been reached on the proposal following consultations with US counterparts, while stressing that final steps still lie ahead.
Zelensky, Umerov highlight progress, signal readiness for Washington visit
“There are some minor details to be sorted out, but they have agreed to a peace deal,” the US official said, adding that negotiations are moving quickly.
Umerov echoed the tone of cautious optimism, saying Ukraine had agreed to the “core terms” of the proposal and expressed hope that President Volodymyr Zelensky could travel to Washington before the end of November to conclude the agreement with US President Donald Trump. In a statement on X, he said Ukraine now expects the backing of its European partners as the process advances and looks forward to organizing a presidential visit “at the earliest suitable date in November” to complete the final steps and formalize the deal.In a separate statement on X, Zelensky said the talks in Geneva had created tangible momentum. “Following the meetings in Geneva, we see many prospects that can make the path to peace real. There are solid results, and much work still lies ahead. Today, a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing will take place. We have coordinated our positions and the priority issues for discussion, as well as some of our next steps and contacts,” he said.
Abu Dhabi channel opens as Kremlin holds back
The developments come as US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll holds negotiations with Russian representatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital. Driscoll spent hours on Tuesday moving between meetings with Russian officials, while a Ukrainian delegation was also present in Abu Dhabi and in contact with the American side. While details of the latest proposal have not been disclosed, a US military official described the mood as optimistic and characterized the talks as progressing rapidly.
“There was no immediate reaction from Russia” to Ukraine’s stated agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking earlier on Tuesday, said Moscow “appreciates the US’ position” in taking the initiative but emphasized that Russia operates “professionally,” refraining from public disclosures before formal agreements are in place. He added that the Kremlin is now waiting to be officially informed by Washington of the results of its consultations with Ukraine and Europe.
At the same time, a US official told CBS News that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to believe he will take Ukraine’s Donetsk region “one way or the other” – either through negotiations or on the battlefield – and said the Trump administration’s talks in Geneva began from the premise that Putin is correct. While declining to assess whether Ukraine is losing the war in the east, the official said the trajectory of the fighting suggests Russia is advancing toward that objective. The situation around Pokrovsk, a key Ukrainian logistics hub, was described as particularly concerning, with Russian media frequently portraying the city as the “gateway” to the Donbas.
Revised US plan enters decisive phase after Geneva talks
Driscoll is working from a revised version of the White House’s original 28-point plan, following what US officials described as productive negotiations in Geneva over the weekend. Those discussions included senior US officials, Ukrainian representatives, and European allies and preceded Driscoll’s current engagement with Russian counterparts in Abu Dhabi.
The apparent breakthrough marks the most advanced stage yet in the Trump administration’s push to secure a ceasefire in the nearly four-year-long war, though Moscow’s final position and the exact contours of the proposed agreement remain undisclosed.