Rana Taha
Published November 26, 2025 — last updated November 26, 2025
The US president said his envoy Witkoff is meeting Russia’s Putin in Moscow next week. Ukraine’s ambassador to the US told DW that lots of discussions were still taking place on Trump’s peace plan. Follow DW for more.
What you need to know
US President Donald Trump has adopted an optimistic tone regarding peace plans in Ukraine, saying the only deadline he saw for reaching a peace deal “is when it’s over.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s ambassador to the US Olga Stefanishyna told DW Ukrainian teams were headed to Moscow to resume the talks.
Trump said his envoy Steve Witkoff was going to Moscow next week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Here is a rundown of developments in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
US negotiator Driscoll has ‘very right moral compass,’ Ukraine’s US ambassador tells DW
November 26, 2025
Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Olga Stefanishyna struck an optimistic tone about ongoing talks on a Ukraine peace plan and the upcoming visit to Kyiv by US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll. Driscoll is a key negotiator for President Trump and is close to Vice President JD Vance.
Stefanishyna told DW Driscoll was “extremely well briefed on the military situation” and expressed hope that this would translate into understanding Kyiv’s military needs. She described him as having the “very right moral compass” for the task.
She also addressed ongoing talks on Trump’s 28-point peace plan, saying discussions since the plan was unveiled are helping reshape the proposal, which had been criticized for favouring Moscow. Delegations have been reviewing each element of the plan to identify potential traps or possibilities for misinterpretation.
Following Geneva talks, Ukraine succeeded in removing a “full amnesty” clause from the agenda, meaning Russia could still be held accountable for war crimes. Stefanishyna stressed the talks “were not over,” noting a Ukrainian team was heading to Moscow and Driscoll would be visiting Ukraine.
Trump says US envoy Witkoff to meet Russia’s Putin next week
November 26, 2025
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week, President Trump said, adding that his son-in-law Jared Kushner was also involved in the negotiations.
“Steve Witkoff is going over maybe with Jared. I’m not sure about Jared going, but he’s involved in the process, smart guy, and they’re going to be meeting with President Putin, I believe next week in Moscow,” Trump told journalists aboard Air Force One.
On security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump said: “We’re working that out with Europe. Europe will be largely involved.”
Asked about criticism that his 28-point peace plan favours Russia, Trump described it as a “map, not a plan,” saying it had been revised down to 22 points. He said Moscow was also “making concessions,” in that “they stop fighting, and they don’t take any more land.”
Trump said there was no firm deadline for the talks. “You know what the deadline for me is? When it’s over,” he said.
Welcome to our coverage
Diplomatic efforts to iron out a Ukraine peace plan acceptable to both parties remain ongoing, with President Trump sending special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to Kyiv.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Olga Stefanishyna is optimistic about Driscoll’s visit, saying she believes he has the “very right moral compass” for the job.
This coverage will bring the latest on diplomatic movements toward a peace plan and other updates relating to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.