Ukraine has reportedly reached an agreement in principle concerning a peace deal proposed by the Trump administration. This development emerged from discussions held in Geneva, as confirmed by a U.S. official speaking to ABC News. The ongoing negotiations could potentially bring an end to the nearly four-year conflict that has resulted in significant loss of life, marking the bloodiest period in Europe since the Second World War.
The breakthrough follows secret talks in Abu Dhabi on March 11, 2024, involving U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and various Russian officials. According to the official, the Ukrainian delegation has accepted the terms of the proposal, with only “minor details” remaining to be resolved. “There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal,” the source stated.
Details on the negotiations indicate that Driscoll and his team were engaged in discussions with Russian representatives throughout Monday and Tuesday. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Tolbert, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army, described the talks as progressing positively. Notably, both Ukraine and Russia have yet to publicly confirm the presence of negotiators in Abu Dhabi, though the U.S. has acknowledged that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Driscoll were all in attendance.
The peace plan, which was unveiled last week, initially contained 28 points but has since been revised to 19. Significant changes in the proposal include the removal of clauses regarding wartime amnesty and restrictions on Ukraine’s military size. Russia had proposed capping Ukraine’s military at 600,000 troops.
While the situation appears to be progressing, sources indicate that there is a possibility that Russian officials could withdraw from negotiations if the terms diverge significantly from what President Vladimir Putin outlined during his discussions with President Donald Trump in Alaska last August.
This potential peace agreement represents a critical moment in international diplomacy, with the hope that it could lead to a cessation of hostilities and a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
