Ukraine peace framework development advanced through continued negotiations as President Trump established specific summit timing requirements for his personal involvement. Trump announced he would meet with Putin and Zelensky only when negotiations yield agreements approaching complete finalization.
The coordinated deployment of Steve Witkoff to Moscow for Putin discussions and Dan Driscoll to Ukrainian official engagement represents continued American commitment. White House sources emphasize that the negotiating framework has been significantly improved through multiple rounds of consultations.
Trump characterized recent progress as substantial, claiming that tremendous advancement over the past week has narrowed disagreements to a manageable number of specific issues. The president pointed to the evolution of the framework from its controversial initial form.
Despite administration optimism, significant international skepticism persists about whether diplomatic efforts will successfully bridge fundamental incompatibilities between positions. Expert analysts note that core disagreements continue presenting formidable obstacles to achieving a durable settlement.
Ukrainian officials have publicly emphasized their desire for direct presidential engagement, viewing Trump-Zelensky meetings as essential for addressing the most sensitive territorial questions. European leaders coordinated their response through a multinational conference call.