• The Trump administration is working with Russian officials on a 28-point peace framework for Ukraine, modeled after the recent Gaza ceasefire.
  • Key negotiators include Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, with recent discussions held with Ukrainian officials.
  • The plan represents a significant behind-the-scenes diplomatic push, though core issues like territorial disputes remain unresolved.

Draft Framework Takes Shape

US and Russian officials, with direct involvement from the Trump administration, are actively drafting a comprehensive peace plan for Ukraine that draws inspiration from the recent Gaza ceasefire model, according to people familiar with the matter. The 28-point framework represents one of the most detailed diplomatic efforts to date to negotiate an end to the conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The drafting process is being led by Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff alongside Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, signaling a potential shift in US-Russia relations and a concerted push toward a negotiated settlement. Witkoff recently met with Ukraine's National Security Adviser Rustem Umerov to discuss the emerging plan, though a planned meeting between Trump's team and President Zelenskyy in Turkey was postponed at the last minute.

Unresolved Core Issues

While the framework addresses peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, European security, and future US relations with Russia and Ukraine, people close to the negotiations acknowledge that the most contentious issues—particularly the status of contested territories—remain unresolved. The effort comes as the US has committed nearly $67 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the invasion began, underscoring Washington's significant stake in the conflict's outcome.

One person briefed on the discussions described the Gaza-inspired framework as "an attempt to apply recent ceasefire mechanics to a much more complex geopolitical situation." The approach marks an unprecedented effort to use another conflict's resolution as a direct model for Ukraine, potentially signaling a new template for managing large-scale conflicts.

Diplomatic Maneuvering

The Trump administration had aimed to accelerate the process with direct engagement with Ukrainian leadership, but the delayed meeting with Zelenskyy suggests the sensitivity of the negotiations. A spokesperson for the National Security Council declined to comment on specific diplomatic exchanges but confirmed that "various channels remain open for discussing paths toward peace."

Efforts to reach Ukrainian officials for comment on the specific 28-point framework were unsuccessful, though sources indicate the Ukrainian government remains cautious about any plan that might involve territorial concessions. Russian officials have not publicly commented on the reported draft, but people familiar with the matter describe the engagement as "substantive and ongoing."

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the total US military aid commitment to Ukraine. The correct figure is nearly $67 billion since February 2022.