Presidential Meetings on Hold Until Ukraine Peace Agreement Nearly Finalized

The White House adopted a conditional approach to summit diplomacy, with President Trump announcing he will meet Russian and Ukrainian leaders only after peace negotiations yield near-complete agreement. Senior American officials continue intensive discussions with both parties.
Trump directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow for talks with Putin while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll received instructions to engage Ukrainian representatives. The coordinated diplomatic missions aim to resolve remaining disagreements in what the administration characterizes as a substantially refined peace framework.
Initial American peace proposals generated intense opposition from Ukraine and its European allies, who objected to provisions they viewed as undermining Ukrainian sovereignty. Multiple negotiating rounds have produced revisions, with the framework reportedly condensed from 28 to 19 points.
Despite administration claims of progress, significant challenges remain in bridging the gap between Russian and Ukrainian positions. Expert observers note that Trump’s reluctance to engage personally in mediating between the parties may complicate efforts to secure the difficult compromises necessary for agreement.
European leaders coordinated their response through a conference call that included Ukrainian President Zelensky. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated Ukraine has proposed constructive modifications to the peace framework, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio participated to maintain transatlantic coordination.