US Army Secretary optimistic after Kyiv talks on new Ukraine peace plan: White House
Washington, Nov 21
US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll was "very optimistic" after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss a new US peace plan, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt said, on Thursday, at a briefing that US President Donald Trump supports the emerging plan, Xinhua news agency reported.
"It's a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides. And we're working very hard to get it done," she said.
She said US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and State Secretary Marco Rubio have spent the past month quietly drafting the framework and "engaging with both sides, Russia and Ukraine equally, to understand what these countries would commit to in order to see a lasting and durable peace."
Zelensky's office said in a statement Thursday that the Ukrainian president would speak with Trump in the coming days to discuss "diplomatic opportunities and the key points required to achieve peace," according to reports.
US media reports say the current draft plan contains 28 points, including major territorial concessions by Ukraine and sharp reductions in its armed forces, as well as limits on access to long-range weapon types. The plan may also rule out the deployment of European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine after a ceasefire.
The disclosures have drawn sharp reactions in Europe, where officials fear being sidelined in the negotiating process and view aspects of the draft as favoring Russia.
It was reported that EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed Thursday that any viable peace plan requires the support of Ukraine and Europe.
Russia-Ukraine talks have stalled since the Trump-Putin meeting in August in the US state of Alaska.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The territorial concessions mentioned here sound very concerning. Ukraine shouldn't be forced to give up its land. This reminds me of how smaller nations often get pressured by bigger powers. Hope Ukraine gets a fair deal.
Interesting that Europe feels sidelined. Shows how global power dynamics are shifting. From India's perspective, we've maintained our strategic autonomy and it's working well for us. Every country should prioritize its own national interests.
While I appreciate the peace efforts, the plan seems heavily tilted toward Russian interests. Reducing Ukraine's armed forces and limiting their weapons while ruling out European peacekeepers? This doesn't sound like a balanced solution.
The timing is interesting with elections coming up. Hope this isn't just political posturing. Real peace would be good for global stability and trade - something that matters to growing economies like India. 🇮🇳
As someone who has worked in international relations, I must say this approach of sidelining Europe is concerning. Multilateral solutions tend to be more sustainable than bilateral deals between superpowers. The EU foreign policy chief is right to insist on Ukraine and Europe's involvement.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.