A fresh wave of diplomatic speculation swept across Europe after a senior American military delegation arrived in Kyiv for strategic discussions aimed at ending the long-running conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is leading the team, which is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of a broader push to explore possible paths toward de-escalation. Their visit coincided with reports claiming the United States and Russia may have quietly drafted a new settlement framework that would compel Ukraine to accept significant concessions, including territorial withdrawals and a reduced military structure. Neither Washington nor Moscow has formally confirmed the existence of such a document.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at the complexity of the moment, remarking on X that any genuine resolution would require “tough but necessary trade-offs from all sides,” adding that the US will continue evaluating various options based on feedback from the nations involved.
European leaders responded cautiously, underscoring that any agreement must align with Ukrainian sovereignty and EU priorities. EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas stressed that Kyiv must be at the center of all deliberations, while France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reaffirmed that Ukraine does not plan to accept any arrangement resembling surrender.
The renewed speculation unfolded just hours after a devastating Russian strike hit residential areas in Ternopil, killing at least 26 civilians and leaving many missing. Zelensky, who was in Turkey at the time, was reportedly scheduled to hold talks with Trump’s envoy, though the meeting was cancelled.
When Driscoll touched down in Kyiv, US officials did not reference the rumored settlement plan. Army spokesperson Col David Butler described the visit as part of a broader fact-finding mission authorized by the Trump administration, focused on evaluating the situation on the ground and discussing potential routes toward a ceasefire.
Driscoll is accompanied by Army Chief of Staff Gen Randy George, US Army Europe Commander Gen Chris Donahue, and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, marking the most senior US military visit to Ukraine since Trump took office.
A Ukrainian official told CBS that the conversations would revolve around frontline realities and a possible freeze in hostilities. According to the source, Zelensky and Trump have already expressed openness to halting the fighting along the current battle lines, with additional security guarantees yet to be resolved.
Following his meeting with Driscoll, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal said both sides reviewed steps toward implementing earlier defence commitments made by the two presidents.
Reports about a 28-point proposal — allegedly crafted by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russia’s Kirill Dmitriev — surfaced after three days of talks in Miami. No Ukrainian or European representatives were involved, according to multiple insiders.
Leaked details suggest the plan would require Ukraine to relinquish the remaining parts of the Donbas, drastically downsize its military, and hand over large stocks of weaponry — conditions Zelensky has repeatedly rejected.
The Kremlin reacted cautiously, referencing the so-called “spirit of Anchorage,” a term linked to the undisclosed outcomes of the 2024 Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.
Russia continues to maintain hardline preconditions for a truce, conditions Ukraine views as outright capitulation. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated those demands earlier in the month.
In Washington, the White House confirmed that special envoy Keith Kellogg will step down in January, concluding his tenure. Kellogg has long been considered Ukraine’s strongest advocate inside an administration often accused of leaning toward Moscow.
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