Trump backs off Ukraine peace deadline as US envoy heads to Moscow amid reports of coaching Russians
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew a firm Thanksgiving deadline for Ukraine to accept a U.S.-backed peace framework and defended the administration’s negotiators after reports the lead envoy advised Russian officials how to press the proposal.
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Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Florida, Trump said U.S. negotiators were making progress with both sides and that Moscow had agreed to “some concessions,” without offering details. He repeated that his personal deadline was now “when it’s over,” after previously setting Nov. 27 as a target.
The Kremlin confirmed that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow next week to meet President Vladimir Putin, a visit Kremlin foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov described as “preliminary agreement.” Ushakov said several other U.S. officials will accompany Witkoff.
Bloomberg reported that in an Oct. 14 telephone call Witkoff told Ushakov they should cooperate on a ceasefire plan and suggested Putin raise the idea with Trump, including arranging a Trump-Putin call before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s White House visit. The story said Witkoff proposed using a recently concluded Gaza agreement as a diplomatic opening.
Trump said he had not heard the recording Bloomberg cited but called such outreach “what a dealmaker does,” and added he would expect similar approaches to Ukraine. He also said Russia appeared to have the upper hand and suggested some territory “might be gotten by Russia anyway” in coming months. He said security guarantees for Ukraine were being negotiated with European partners.
U.S. officials describe the original U.S. framework — reported last week and widely criticized as favoring Russia — as revised. One official familiar with the new version told AFP it is “significantly better,” noting a proposed cap on Ukraine’s future armed forces had been raised from 600,000 to 800,000. Officials acknowledged remaining “delicate” issues.
Negotiations have been brisk: Ukrainian and U.S. representatives met in Geneva to discuss a 28-point draft plan, and talks involving U.S. and Russian delegates were taking place in Abu Dhabi. A 30-country group supporting Ukraine also held a video meeting. U.S. negotiator Dan Driscoll emerged from talks with Russians saying he was optimistic.
But international leaders voiced skepticism. French President Emmanuel Macron said there was “clearly no Russian willingness” for a cease-fire or to discuss the newer, more Ukraine-friendly proposal. European capitals, especially the Baltic states, remain alarmed about Russian threats; Ireland’s minister for European affairs said small NATO neighbors see Russia as an “existential threat.”
The war on the ground continued. Russian strikes in Zaporizhzhia damaged at least seven high-rise buildings and hospitalized 12 people, regional officials said. Overnight attacks on Kyiv involving missiles and drones set fires in apartment buildings and city officials reported seven deaths.
With diplomacy accelerating but battlefield violence unabated, U.S. officials say a deal remains possible though fragile, and Trump says he hopes to meet both Putin and Zelensky once a final agreement is in hand.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
