Trump Ally Pursues Backchannel Ukraine Peace Plan, Raising Fears of Concessions to Russia
A renewed push for peace negotiations in Ukraine is underway, complicated by a backchannel effort led by a Trump ally that appears to prioritize Russian interests. The initiative, involving multiple international locations and a series of evolving proposals, has sparked concern among Kyiv’s allies who fear potential concessions that could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The current diplomatic flurry – spanning Switzerland, Angola, and the United Arab Emirates – gained momentum with the emergence of a 28-point plan crafted by individuals connected to both the U.S. and Russia. According to reports, Witkoff and Dmitriev were instrumental in developing this initial framework aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
The plan, reportedly backed by former President Donald Trump, quickly drew criticism for allegedly favoring Moscow’s position. Concerns centered on potential territorial concessions demanded by Russia and limitations placed on the future size of Ukraine’s armed forces. “Many of Ukraine’s allies ‘freaked out’ at the contents of the Trump-backed plan,” sources indicated, prompting a swift response to formulate a counterproposal.
On Tuesday, Dan Driscoll, the U.S. Army secretary, presented a revised 19-point plan to a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi. This updated version reportedly removed elements deemed overly favorable to Russia, signaling an attempt to recalibrate the negotiations.
However, evidence suggests continued efforts to steer the U.S. toward a more Russia-aligned outcome. A published transcript of a conversation on October 29 between Russian officials Ushakov and Dmitriev reveals a strategy to subtly influence American acceptance of terms beneficial to Moscow. “Well, we need the maximum, don’t you think?” Ushakov reportedly asked. “What do you think? Otherwise, what’s the point of passing anything on?”
Dmitriev responded with a plan to present a proposal framed as “informal,” while simultaneously allowing the U.S. to develop its own. “I think we’ll just make this paper from our position, and I’ll informally pass it along, making it clear that it’s all informal,” Dmitriev stated. “And let them do like their own. But, I don’t think they’ll take exactly our version, but at least it’ll be as close to it as possible.”
This approach underscores a calculated attempt to shape the narrative and leverage ongoing peace talks to secure advantageous terms for Russia, even as Moscow continues its military operations in Ukraine for a fourth year. Trump’s stated goal of ending the war, coupled with a reported lack of “red lines” on the path to peace, further complicates the situation and raises questions about the future direction of U.S. policy toward Ukraine.
