July 24, 2026 1:37 PM

Ukraine and the U.S. are coordinating a new round of peace proposals to present to Moscow, hoping that changing war dynamics could create the opportunity to push Russia toward negotiations, Ukrainian and U.S. officials told the Kyiv Independent.

The proposals would reflect what Ukrainian officials describe as new “realities on the ground” after months of shifting momentumin the war.

One U.S. official said the White House believes the Kremlin may now be more willing to accept at least a partial ceasefire in the air as Ukraine expands its strikes inside Russia.

The renewed diplomatic push comes after months of deadlock, with Washington now trying to revive negotiations that effectively stalled earlier this year.

Peace talks return

President Volodymyr Zelensky recently held a call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys leading Washington’s efforts to broker a settlement between Ukraine and Russia.

According to a person with direct knowledge of the conversation, the discussion did not include detailed proposals. Instead, the two envoys informed Zelensky that the White House is preparing a revised framework for negotiations.

The next step is expected to involve close coordination with Kyiv before the proposals are presented to Moscow.

Ukraine had hoped to continue those discussions in person with Witkoff and Kushner during meetings in Finland this week. Those plans were ultimately derailed by the latest escalation between the United Statesand Iran. 

Even so, negotiations continue behind the scenes.

According to officials familiar with the planning, Witkoff and Kushner currently have no plans to visit Kyiv, but are expected to travel to Russia in late July or early August after aligning positions with the Ukrainian side.

Trump, Zelensky prepare next move

The renewed diplomatic effort is expected to gain momentum early next week.

Zelensky and Trump are preparing to meet to discuss the next phase of the peace initiative.

One person familiar with the planning said the leaders could meet on the sidelines of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral on July 28, although a meeting at the White House also remains under consideration.

Among the issues expected to be discussed is another attempt to arrange direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky has argued that only Putin has the authority to end Russia’s full-scale war. Yet every attempt to organize a meeting has encountered the same obstacle.

The Kremlin has consistently rejected meetings in a neutral country, instead insisting that Zelensky travel to Russia — a proposal Kyiv views less as a genuine offer than as a convenient way to avoid direct negotiations altogether.

Trump has previously said he would not oppose participating in such a meeting if it helped advance peace efforts.