Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on Thursday that he is ready to work with the Trump administration on a new peace plan for Ukraine, Axios reported, citing U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
The plan demands significant concessions from Ukraine, including ceding territories currently controlled by Russia. However, instead of a categorical refusal, Zelensky agreed to negotiations.
Driscoll presented Zelensky with a written copy of the plan, a Ukrainian official said. A U.S. official noted that Zelensky and Driscoll "agreed on an aggressive timeline for signing." The Office of the President of Ukraine stated that Zelensky "outlined fundamental principles important to our people, and following the meeting, the parties agreed to work on the provisions of the plan in a way that ensures a just end to the war."
Driscoll's delegation was initially scheduled to travel to Ukraine to discuss military technology and strategy, but the White House asked him to help "jumpstart negotiations" with Zelensky on behalf of U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a second U.S. official reported.
The plan was drafted by Witkoff and other U.S. officials in consultation with the Russians. A planned meeting between Zelensky and Witkoff fell through earlier this week after the American side claimed Zelensky failed to demonstrate a readiness to seriously consider the plan.
However, a Ukrainian official told Axios that Zelensky was more conciliatory during his meeting with Driscoll. "The solution is to try to work on this jointly to make peace possible," the official said.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the Trump administration sought to reassure Ukraine and its European allies that the plan is a "living document" and that their positions would be taken into account, a U.S. official said.
Witkoff assured German foreign policy lawmaker Johann Wadephul in a phone call Thursday morning that the new plan is a "framework of ideas" incorporating both Ukrainian and Russian positions. "Witkoff emphasized that the Trump administration is acting responsibly and looking for ways to end the conflict in Ukraine," the U.S. official said.
According to the official, Witkoff told Wadephul: "If people don't like certain parts of the plan, they need to let us know, and we will try to find a compromise."
Europeans were not consulted during the initial drafting of the plan, and Ukrainians were brought in only after lengthy negotiations between U.S. and Russian envoys. The plan includes elements considered extremely Moscow-centric, specifically a cap on the size and capabilities of the Ukrainian military post-war, the Ukrainian official said. Ukraine has repeatedly rejected such proposals in the past.
The U.S. pressure comes as Zelensky faces more intense internal political pressure than at any time since Russia's full-scale invasion. A sprawling corruption scandal has implicated some of Zelensky's close associates, while the opposition is calling for a purge or even the formation of a new government of national unity. Zelensky is expected to convene members of parliament from his party this evening, just hours after the meeting with Driscoll.
Driscoll learned only last week that he would be tapped for the role of peace envoy. The assignment triggered a flurry of activity, the U.S. official said: "As you can imagine, we are clearing the calendar, moving into full planning and preparation mode."