Washington experienced a flurry of diplomatic activity concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with a series of late-night announcements signalling a potential breakthrough. The developments centre on a peace proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump, for which he has set a firm deadline.
A Midnight Tweet and a Tight Deadline
The news broke in the middle of the night in Washington DC, when Ukraine's National Security Advisor, Rustem Umerov, posted a significant update. He stated that the United States and Ukraine had reached a "common understanding on the core terms of the agreement discussed in Geneva."
Crucially, Umerov added that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would travel to America "at the earliest suitable date in November" to finalise a deal with President Trump. This announcement comes directly against the backdrop of a deadline set by the US President, who has demanded some form of agreement by Thursday, which is Thanksgiving in the United States.
Parallel Talks and Russian Silence
By sunrise in the American capital, a US official, speaking anonymously to media, echoed the progress but used slightly different wording. The official confirmed that Ukraine had "agreed" to Trump's peace proposal, noting there were only "some minor details to be worked out."
In a parallel development, it has emerged that separate talks have been occurring in Abu Dhabi. American officials claim to have met with both Russian and Ukrainian representatives there, suggesting a backchannel effort to secure a deal. However, the Russian side has not confirmed its participation.
When questioned by Russian state media, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, was evasive, stating only, "I have nothing to say. We are following the media reports." This official silence from Moscow leaves a critical question mark over the entire process.
A Push for a Mar-a-Lago Meeting
President Trump is scheduled to travel to his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, where he will remain until Sunday. The clear impetus is for President Zelenskyy to secure a meeting there to finalise the agreement before the Thursday deadline.
While the exact details of the revised peace plan remain unclear, it is known that the proposal has been altered from its original form. Analysis suggests that President Zelenskyy is keen to be seen agreeing to a deal quickly, a move that is likely to be viewed favourably by President Trump. The Ukrainian leader faces a race against time to arrange a trip to Mar-a-Lago, with a meeting before Thursday seen as ambitious but strategically important.
The ultimate success or failure of this diplomatic push now appears to hinge on Russia's response. All current indications point towards a rejection from the Kremlin. However, the possibility remains that the secretive talks in Abu Dhabi may yet yield a surprise, paving the way for a more comprehensive resolution to the conflict.
