The Trump administration has been conducting clandestine negotiations with Russian officials to develop a comprehensive peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to exclusive reports from Axios citing both US and Russian officials.
Secret Peace Negotiations Revealed
American president Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has been leading extensive discussions with Russian representative Kirill Dmitriev to formulate a 28-point roadmap inspired by Trump's earlier Gaza ceasefire proposal. The ambitious plan addresses multiple critical areas including peace in Ukraine, security guarantees for Europe, and future US relations with both Russia and Ukraine.
The diplomatic efforts have progressed significantly, with Witkoff reportedly discussing the framework with Volodymyr Zelensky's security adviser Rustem Umerov earlier this week in Miami. The American envoy is scheduled to meet directly with President Zelensky later today in Turkey as peace negotiations intensify.
Zelensky's Diplomatic Push in Turkey
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his travel to Ankara on Wednesday in a determined effort to revive stalled peace talks with Russia. In statements made during his visit to Spain on Tuesday, Zelensky emphasised that "bringing the end of the war closer is Ukraine's top priority" and indicated that his administration has developed new solutions to propose to international partners.
This marks the first potential face-to-face diplomatic engagement between Kyiv and Moscow since their delegations last convened in Istanbul in July. While a Turkish source indicated that American envoy Witkoff would join the discussions, the Turkish foreign ministry clarified that President Erdogan would meet exclusively with Zelensky in Ankara.
Poland Identifies Russian-Linked Saboteurs
In a significant security development, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk revealed that authorities have identified two individuals responsible for an explosion on the critical Warsaw-Lublin railway line connecting the Polish capital to the Ukrainian border. The suspects are Ukrainians who allegedly collaborated with Russian intelligence services before fleeing to Belarus.
Mr Tusk told lawmakers that investigators are "sure that the attempt to blow up the rails and the railway infrastructure violation were intentional and their aim was to cause a railway traffic catastrophe." This incident represents the latest in a wave of arson, sabotage and cyberattacks targeting Poland and other European nations since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began.
International Support and Regional Tensions
During President Zelensky's visit to Spain, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez announced a substantial 817 million euro aid package for Ukraine, including 300 million euros in defence equipment. The assistance forms part of a decade-long bilateral security agreement signed in May 2024.
Meanwhile, Russia's southern Krasnodar region experienced temporary flight disruptions at its airport following reported explosions in the area, home to significant energy infrastructure including the Novorossiisk oil terminal and Ilsky refinery. The incidents underscore the continuing volatility of the conflict and its regional repercussions.
The United States has simultaneously approved a potential $105 million sale of Patriot air defence system sustainment equipment to Ukraine, with principal contractors RTX Corp and Lockheed Martin supporting the effort to bolster Ukrainian air defences against ongoing Russian attacks.
