Trump Deploys Envoys While Setting Near-Finalization Condition for Leader Summits

President Trump deployed American envoys to Russia and Ukraine while establishing a near-finalization condition as the threshold for leader summits. Trump stated clearly that he would engage Putin and Zelensky through direct presidential meetings only when peace negotiations demonstrate substantial completion.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s Moscow assignment and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s Ukrainian engagement reflect coordinated efforts to address remaining obstacles. Administration sources indicate that intensive negotiations over recent days have produced what they characterize as meaningful progress.
Trump’s public statements emphasized optimism about the negotiating trajectory, claiming that disagreements between Russia and Ukraine have been substantially reduced. The president characterized recent sessions as highly productive, pointing to refinements made through extensive bilateral consultations.
The original American peace plan triggered intense criticism from Ukrainian and European officials who objected strenuously to provisions they viewed as undermining sovereignty. Subsequent negotiating rounds have produced modifications that White House officials maintain address the most serious concerns.
Ukrainian President Zelensky maintained careful public positioning on negotiating developments, expressing gratitude for American diplomatic engagement while strategically avoiding confirmation of specific agreements. Ukrainian officials have emphasized that territorial issues require direct Trump-Zelensky discussions.