Trump Teases Major Progress in Russia–Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Alaska Plan Debates

President of the United States Donald Trump suggested that “something good may be happening” around discussions on a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, posting on Truth Social.

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"Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine? Don't believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening," he wrote.

On 23 November, the US and Ukrainian delegations discussed the draft agreement. Following the meeting, Kyiv confirmed that the conditions aligned with its interests, while "final decisions" under the project would be made by the presidents of Ukraine and the US, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, according to the White House.

According to RBC-Ukraine, most positions were agreed upon, leaving only issues regarding territories and NATO integration for presidential-level discussion. The initial US plan proposed that Ukraine reduce its armed forces to 600,000 personnel, renounce NATO membership, and recognize Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk as de facto Russian territories. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia would receive "frozen status" along the contact line.

Russian authorities welcomed the plan’s development.

"I believe it could serve as the basis for a final peaceful settlement. However, the text is not being discussed with us in detail," said President of Russia Vladimir Putin on 21 November, noting that Russia has access to the plan.

Negotiations between representatives of Russia and the US are not scheduled for this week, but Moscow remains open to them, according to press secretary Dmitry Peskov as reported by RBC.

European leaders and Kyiv maintain several red lines concerning the US peace plan: Ukraine must retain effective defense, receive security guarantees, and avoid unilateral territorial concessions, stated Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz. He added that Ukraine’s interests are Europe’s interests.

"We want a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine as soon as possible," Merz said, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He emphasized that provisions of the peace plan affecting Europe should not be accepted without European agreement.

After the US-Ukraine talks in Geneva, the chancellor stated that he did not expect a quick breakthrough but said the next step should come from Moscow.

"Russia must sit at the negotiation table. If possible, then all efforts will have been worth it," Merz added, as cited by Stern.

Kremlin's official spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin is aware of the US-Ukraine discussions in Geneva but has not received official information.

Moscow remains open to contacts and negotiations, but there are currently no specifics. Regarding EU counterproposals to the US plan, Dmitry Peskov noted that discussing the document via media is inappropriate and unreliable. "We do not know how accurate or truthful this is," he said.