A senior US military delegation led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll arrived in Kyiv this week to discuss efforts to end the war with Russia. The team met Ukrainian officials and is expected to see President Volodymyr Zelensky when he returns from Turkey; the visit follows reports of a privately drafted 28-point peace plan that neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed. The arrival came on a day when a Russian missile and drone attack killed at least 26 people in Ternopil, underscoring the continuing violence along the front. US officials described the trip as fact‑finding and focused on security, ceasefire options and implementation of recent defence agreements.
Key Takeaways
- The US delegation was led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and included Gen Randy George, Gen Chris Donahue and Sergeant Major Michael Weimer, the most senior US military leaders in Kyiv since President Donald Trump took office in January.
- Officials said the team arrived to “discuss efforts to end the war” and to meet Ukrainian counterparts; an in‑person meeting with President Zelensky was expected when he returned from Turkey.
- At least 26 people were killed in a Russian missile and drone attack on Ternopil on the day of the visit, highlighting active frontline violence despite diplomatic activity.
- Ukraine’s defence minister publicly thanked the US for approving a support package for the PATRIOT air‑defence system valued at approximately $105 million.
- Multiple outlets reported a privately drafted 28‑point plan that reportedly includes territorial and force‑structure concessions from Kyiv; the White House and Moscow have not publicly confirmed those details.
- Russian officials referenced the “spirit of Anchorage” in downplaying new diplomatic breakthroughs, while Kyiv has repeatedly rejected territorial concessions as non‑starter.
Background
The full‑scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022 and has since produced a long, shifting frontline and extensive international involvement. Western capitals, including Washington, have supplied military aid and training to Kyiv while publicly advocating for Ukraine’s sovereignty and the restoration of its pre‑invasion borders. Diplomatic efforts have run in parallel with battlefield developments; previous summitry and envoys have at times produced outlines for talks while failing to secure lasting ceasefires.
Since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, the visit marks the highest‑level US Army engagement in Kyiv. The delegation’s mix—senior civilian leadership, the Army chief of staff, the top US Army commander in Europe and the service’s senior enlisted leader—signals a focus on both strategy and operational detail. For Kyiv, sustaining Western military supplies and formalising defence arrangements remain immediate priorities. For Washington, the visit presents an opportunity to assess front‑line conditions directly and to discuss potential diplomatic pathways without committing to public endorsements of any private proposals.
Main Event
Officials said the delegation arrived on a one‑day fact‑finding mission to meet Ukrainian leaders and review implementation of recently announced defence agreements. An image distributed by Ukrainian officials showed Dan Driscoll meeting Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal; Shmyhal later posted that talks concentrated on next steps for implementing defence pacts agreed by Presidents Zelensky and Trump. Ukrainian side officials also thanked the US for approving a roughly $105 million support package for the PATRIOT air‑defence system.
Reports surfaced earlier that US and Russian envoys had drafted a 28‑point peace plan involving substantial concessions by Kyiv, including territory, weapons limitations and cuts to Ukraine’s armed forces. Media outlets such as Axios, the Financial Times and Reuters cited people familiar with the matter; however, neither Washington nor Moscow has publicly validated the plan’s contents. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred to earlier diplomatic groundwork and downplayed claims of new breakthroughs, invoking the ″spirit of Anchorage″ from a prior summit.
Ukrainian officials told US media that talks on the visit would cover both the military situation on the ground and possible ceasefire frameworks. Kyiv has repeatedly stated it will not accept territorial concessions, while Moscow continues to list preconditions—territorial gains, limitations on Ukraine’s military size and neutrality—that Kyiv and its Western backers say amount to surrender. Any concrete agreements from the meetings held during the delegation’s stopover have not been published.
Analysis & Implications
The arrival of senior US military leaders in Kyiv signals Washington’s intent to remain closely engaged on both military assistance and diplomatic options. A fact‑finding delegation—rather than a formal negotiating team—allows the US to gather on‑the‑ground assessments without immediately committing to or publicly endorsing specific proposals. That posture keeps Washington flexible but also fuels speculation when private plans leak to the media.
If reports of a 28‑point plan that includes major Ukrainian concessions are accurate, such an outline would represent a sharp pivot from Western public positions that emphasise Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Acceptance by Kyiv would be politically fraught and likely face intense domestic resistance; rejection by Kyiv would limit the plan’s viability. Either outcome could affect cohesion among Western supporters who differ on how best to press for an end to fighting while supporting Ukraine’s long‑term security.
On the battlefield, continuing strikes such as the attack on Ternopil that killed at least 26 people demonstrate that any diplomatic initiative will face test in stopping active hostilities. Even limited ceasefires have been fragile in the past; embedding verification mechanisms and security guarantees would be essential for any durable pause. Economically and militarily, lowering Ukraine’s force posture or surrendering territory could have long‑term consequences for regional deterrence and reconstruction needs.
Comparison & Data
| Event | Date/Period | Key figures/details |
|---|---|---|
| Full‑scale Russian invasion | 2022 | Large‑scale military campaign; sustained frontline combat |
| Ternopil attack | Day of US delegation visit | At least 26 people killed (missile and drone attack) |
| US delegation to Kyiv | This week | Led by Dan Driscoll; includes Gen Randy George, Gen Chris Donahue, Sgt Maj Michael Weimer |
| PATRIOT support package | Announced during visit | Approximately $105 million approved |
The table places the delegation visit and the Ternopil strike in immediate context: diplomacy and violence are occurring simultaneously. The $105 million PATRIOT support package is a measurable, short‑term material commitment, whereas any change in force structure or territory would have larger, long‑term consequences not captured in a single figure.
Reactions & Quotes
Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal highlighted the visit’s focus on implementing defence agreements and thanked Washington for the PATRIOT package. He framed the talks as follow‑through on commitments made by national leaders.
“We focused on the next steps for implementing the historic defence agreements reached by President Zelensky and President Trump.”
Denys Shmyhal, Ukrainian Defence Minister (post on X)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to temper expectations about new breakthroughs, linking current reports to previous discussions and invoking past summit rhetoric.
“We have no additional innovations to what we call ‘the spirit of Anchorage’.”
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman (state media)
An unnamed Ukrainian official speaking to US media said the trip would address frontline military realities and possible ceasefire terms; that account included claims about agreements between Presidents Zelensky and Trump that Kyiv has not made public. Those claims remain subject to verification and are listed below as unconfirmed.
Unconfirmed
- Reports that the US and Russia have finalized a 28‑point peace plan detailing territorial concessions and major cuts to Ukraine’s armed forces are unverified by either government at this time.
- An anonymous Ukrainian official’s claim that Presidents Zelensky and Trump agreed to stop the conflict along existing lines of engagement has not been publicly corroborated by either presidential office.
- Media accounts that specific security guarantees or the precise contents of the draft plan are agreed upon remain based on unnamed sources and have not been released for public scrutiny.
Bottom Line
The US delegation’s arrival in Kyiv is a high‑level sign that Washington is actively engaged in both military planning and exploratory diplomacy toward ending the war with Russia. The presence of senior Army leadership suggests attention to operational realities on the ground and to how defence agreements will be implemented in practice.
Simultaneous reports of a privately drafted peace plan and the deadly Ternopil strike underscore the tension between negotiating and fighting—any diplomatic pathway will need credible verification and enforcement mechanisms to outlast battlefield dynamics. For readers following developments, watch for official confirmations from Kyiv, Washington and Moscow and for concrete texts or memorandums that move beyond unnamed sourcing.
Sources
- BBC News (international media report; original article and on‑the‑ground reporting)
- Reuters (international media reporting on alleged peace proposals)
- Financial Times (international media reporting on reported diplomatic proposals)
- Axios (US media reporting cited on private plan)
- CBS News (US media partner reporting on Ukrainian official’s account)
- The White House (official — requested comment)